Jan 29, 2026

Public workspaceSystematic Review Protocol:Cognitive Function and Psychological Outcomes in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients Receiving Targeted Temperature Management

DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.5jyl8xj7dv2w/v1
  • Yuduo Lin1,
  • Junhong Wang2,
  • Supeng Feng1,
  • Lanfang Du2
  • 1Peking University;
  • 2Peking University Third Hospital
  • Lin-CA-2025
Yuduo Lin
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DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.5jyl8xj7dv2w/v1
Protocol Citation: Yuduo Lin, Junhong Wang, Supeng Feng, Lanfang Du 2026. Systematic Review Protocol:Cognitive Function and Psychological Outcomes in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients Receiving Targeted Temperature Management. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.5jyl8xj7dv2w/v1
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License,  which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: January 10, 2026
Last Modified: January 29, 2026
Protocol Integer ID: 238376
Keywords: hospital cardiac arrest patient, hospital cardiac arrest, cardiac arrest, receiving targeted temperature management, targeted temperature management this systematic review protocol, targeted temperature management, psychological outcomes in survivor, temperature management, neuropsychological recovery, psychological outcome, psychological outcomes in out, target temperature, such as target temperature, optimal ttm protocols for clinical practice
Funders Acknowledgements:
The National Natural Science Foundation of China
Grant ID: 62273009
The Special Fund of the National Clinical Key Specialty Construction Program
Grant ID: (2022)301-2305
Abstract
This systematic review protocol aims to evaluate the effects of targeted temperature management (TTM) on cognitive and psychological outcomes in survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). It will assess how specific TTM parameters—such as target temperature and duration—influence anxiety, depression, and cognitive function.
Expected results will clarify the relationship between TTM and neuropsychological recovery, identify optimal TTM protocols for clinical practice, and highlight research gaps to guide future studies on personalized post-arrest care.
Guidelines
Follow the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines for the design, conduct, and reporting of this systematic review.
Materials
This systematic review is a secondary analysis of published literature and does not require experimental materials. The tools used for this review include:
1. Reference management software for literature organization and deduplication
2. Electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science) for literature retrieval
3. Statistical software (e.g., RevMan, Stata) for data synthesis and meta-analysis (if applicable)
Troubleshooting
Problem
Insufficient or incomplete literature retrieval results.
Solution
Use multiple electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science) and supplement with grey literature (e.g., conference abstracts, clinical trial registries). Adjust search strategies by adding synonyms and expanding keywords.
Problem
Disagreement between two reviewers during literature screening or data extraction.
Solution
Resolve discrepancies through discussion between reviewers; if consensus cannot be reached, involve a third reviewer for arbitration.
Safety warnings
Avoid selection bias by ensuring two independent reviewers conduct literature screening and data extraction.


Ethics statement
This systematic review is based on publicly available published literature and does not involve new animal experiments, human subjects research, or data collection from living individuals. Therefore, ethical approval is not required for this study.
Before start
1. Confirm that the systematic review protocol has been registered on PROSPERO (or relevant platforms).
2. Prepare reference management software for literature screening and organization.
Determine the PICO/PICOS framework for the systematic review:
  • Population (P): Cardiac Arrest (CA) patients
  • Intervention (I): Targeted Temperature Management (TTM)
  • Comparison (C): conventional treatment
  • Outcomes (O): Cognitive function, psychological outcomes (e.g., anxiety, depression)
Register the systematic review protocol on PROSPERO (or other relevant platforms) before literature search.
Select electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science (time range: inception to May 10, 2025).
Construct search terms:
#1 MeSH descriptor: [Depression] explode all trees
#2 (Emotional Depression):ti,ab,kw OR (Depressive Symptoms):ti,ab,kw OR (Depressive Symptom):ti,ab,kw OR (Depression):ti,ab,kw
#3 #1 OR #2
#4 MeSH descriptor: [Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic] explode all trees
#5 (Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic):ti,ab,kw OR (Chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder):ti,ab,kw OR (Chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder):ti,ab,kw OR (oral Injuries):ti,ab,kw OR (Moral Injury):ti,ab,kw
#6 (Injury, Moral):ti,ab,kw OR (Delayed Onset Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder):ti,ab,kw OR (Delayed Onset Post Traumatic Stress Disorder):ti,ab,kw OR (Acute Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder):ti,ab,kw OR (Acute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder):ti,ab,kw
#7 (Posttraumatic Neuroses):ti,ab,kw OR (Post Traumatic Stress Disorders):ti,ab,kw OR (Stress Disorder, Posttraumatic):ti,ab,kw OR (Posttraumatic Stress Disorders):ti,ab,kw OR (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder):ti,ab,kw
#8 (Neuroses, Post Traumatic):ti,ab,kw OR (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder):ti,ab,kw OR (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders):ti,ab,kw OR (Stress Disorder, Post Traumatic):ti,ab,kw OR (PTSD):ti,ab,kw
#9 (Post-Traumatic Neuroses):ti,ab,kw OR (Stress Disorder, Post-Traumatic):ti,ab,kw OR (Neuroses, Posttraumatic):ti,ab,kw OR (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder):ti,ab,kw OR (Stress Disorders, Posttraumatic):ti,ab,kw
#10 Neuroses, Post-Traumatic
#11 #4 OR #5 OR #6 OR #7 OR #8 OR #9 OR #10
#12 MeSH descriptor: [Cognitive Dysfunction] explode all trees
#13 (Disorders, Cognitive):ti,ab,kw OR (Cognitive Dysfunction):ti,ab,kw OR (Cognitive Disorder):ti,ab,kw OR (Cognitive Disorders):ti,ab,kw OR (Dysfunctions, Cognitive):ti,ab,kw
#14 (Dysfunction, Cognitive):ti,ab,kw OR (Cognitive Dysfunctions):ti,ab,kw OR (Impairments, Cognitive):ti,ab,kw OR (Cognitive Impairment):ti,ab,kw AND (Cognitive Impairments):ti,ab,kw
#15 (Impairment, Cognitive):ti,ab,kw OR (Disorder, Cognitive):ti,ab,kw OR (Deteriorations, Mental):ti,ab,kw OR (Declines, Cognitive):ti,ab,kw OR (Deterioration, Mental):ti,ab,kw
#16 (Cognitive Declines):ti,ab,kw OR (Mental Deteriorations;):ti,ab,kw OR (Decline, Cognitive):ti,ab,kw OR (Mental Deterioration):ti,ab,kw OR (Cognitive Decline):ti,ab,kw
#17 #12 OR #13 OR #14 OR #15 OR #16
#18 MeSH descriptor: [Anxiety] explode all trees
#19 (Angst):ti,ab,kw OR (Nervousness):ti,ab,kw OR (Anxiousness):ti,ab,kw OR (Hypervigilance):ti,ab,kw OR (Anxiety):ti,ab,kw
#20 #19 OR #18
#21 MeSH descriptor: [Heart Arrest] explode all trees
#22 (Heart Arrest):ti,ab,kw OR (Arrest, Cardiopulmonary):ti,ab,kw OR (Cardiopulmonary Arrest):ti,ab,kw OR (Asystoles):ti,ab,kw OR (Cardiac Arrest):ti,ab,kw
#23 (Arrest, Cardiac):ti,ab,kw OR (Arrest, Heart):ti,ab,kw OR (Asystole):ti,ab,kw
#24 #21 OR #22 OR #23
#25 #3 OR #11 OR #17 OR #20
#26 #25 AND #24
Remove duplicate records using reference management software.
Screen titles and abstracts independently by 2 reviewers: exclude studies that do not meet PICO/PICOS criteria.
Screen full texts of remaining studies independently by 2 reviewers: resolve discrepancies via discussion or third reviewer consultation.
Document the screening process (PRISMA flow diagram).
Develop a standardized data extraction form (include: study characteristics, sample size, TTM protocol (temperature, duration), cognitive/psychological assessment instruments and outcomes, follow-up time).
Extract data independently by 2 reviewers; cross-check for consistency.
Assess risk of bias in included studies,using Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool (RoB 2.0) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), independently by 2 reviewers and a third solving the disagreements.
Present study characteristics (table), risk of bias (summary plot), and outcome results(e.g., forest plots for meta-analysis if data are poolable; use narrative synthesis if substantial heterogeneity is present) .
Discuss limitations and clinical implications of findings.
Protocol references
1. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG; PRISMA Group. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. BMJ. 2009 Jul 21;339:b2535. doi: 10.1136/bmj.b2535. PMID: 19622551; PMCID: PMC2714657.
2.Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, Chandler J, Welch VA, Higgins JP, Thomas J. Updated guidance for trusted systematic reviews: a new edition of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019 Oct 3;10(10):ED000142. doi: 10.1002/14651858.ED000142. PMID: 31643080; PMCID: PMC10284251.
Acknowledgements
The data retrieval process for this study was supported by the following electronic databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. We extend our sincere gratitude to these databases for providing valuable academic resources. We also acknowledge Peking University Third Hospital and Peking University Library for their technical support in accessing these databases. This work was supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 62273009), and the Special Fund of the National Clinical Key Specialty Construction Program, P. R. China (2022)301-2305,and the Emergency-Critical Care Delirium Cohort BYSYDL2025023.