On the treatment effect heterogeneity of antidepressants in major depression: A Bayesian meta-analysis and simulation study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The average treatment effect of antidepressants in major depression was found to be about 2 points on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, which lies below clinical relevance. Here, we searched for evidence of a relevant treatment effect heterogeneity that could justify the usage of antidepressants despite their low average treatment effect.

Methods

Bayesian meta-analysis of 169 randomized, controlled trials including 58,687 patients. We considered the effect sizes log variability ratio (lnVR) and log coefficient of variation ratio (lnCVR) to analyze the difference in variability of active and placebo response. We used Bayesian random-effects meta-analyses (REMA) for lnVR and lnCVR and fitted a random-effects meta-regression (REMR) model to estimate the t

SUBMITTER: Volkmann C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7657525 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature