Raising Placebo Efficacy in Antidepressant Trials Across Decades Explained by Small-Study Effects: A Meta-Reanalysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recent meta-analyses reported placebo response rate in antidepressant trials to be stable since the 1970s. These meta-analyses however were limited in considering only linear time trends, assessed trial-level covariates based on single-model hypothesis testing only, and did not adjust for small-study effects (SSE), a well-known but not yet formally assessed bias in antidepressant trials.

Methods

This secondary meta-analysis extends previous work by modeling nonlinear time trends, assessing the relative importance of trial-level covariates using a multimodel approach, and rigorously adjusting for SSE. Outcomes were placebo efficacy (continuous), based on the Hamilton Depression Scale, and placebo response rate.

Results

Results suggested that any nonlinear ti

SUBMITTER: Holper L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7399231 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature