Effects of antidepressant medicines on preventing relapse of unipolar depression: a pooled analysis of parametric survival curves.

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Title: Effects of antidepressant medicines on preventing relapse of unipolar depression: a pooled analysis of parametric survival curves.
Authors: Zhou, Dongdong, Lv, Zhen, Shi, Lei, Zhou, Xiaoxin, Lin, Qingxia, Chen, Xiaorong, Wan, Liyang, Li, Yao, Ran, Liuyi, Huang, Yan, Wang, Gaomao, Li, Daqi, Wang, Wo, Liu, Chuan, Kuang, Li
Source: Psychological Medicine. Jan2022, Vol. 52 Issue 1, p48-56. 9p.
Subjects: Prevention of mental depression, Disease relapse prevention, Antidepressants, Statistics, Patient aftercare, Experimental design, Randomized controlled trials, Placebos, Descriptive statistics, Data analysis, Probability theory
Abstract: Background: Major depressive disorder is characterized by a high risk of relapse. We aimed to compare the prophylactic effects of different antidepressant medicines (ADMs). Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase and the Web of Science were searched on 4 July 2019. A pooled analysis of parametric survival curves was performed using a Bayesian framework. The main outcomes were hazard ratios (HRs), relapse-free survival and mean relapse-free months. Results: Forty randomized controlled trials were included. The 1-year relapse-free survival for ADM (76%) was significantly better than that for placebo (56%). Most of the relapse difference (86.5%) occurred in the first 6 months. Most HRs were not constant over time. Proof of benefit after 6 months of follow-up was not established partially because of small differences between the drug and placebo after 6 months. Almost all studies used an 'enriched' randomized discontinuation design, which may explain the high relapse rates in the first 6 months after randomization. Conclusions: The superiority of ADM v. placebo was mainly attributed to the difference in relapse rates that occurred in the first 6 months. Our analysis provided evidence that the prophylactic efficacy was not constant over time. A beneficial effect was observed, but the prevention of new episodes after 6 months was questionable. These findings may have implications for clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Description
Abstract:Background: Major depressive disorder is characterized by a high risk of relapse. We aimed to compare the prophylactic effects of different antidepressant medicines (ADMs). Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase and the Web of Science were searched on 4 July 2019. A pooled analysis of parametric survival curves was performed using a Bayesian framework. The main outcomes were hazard ratios (HRs), relapse-free survival and mean relapse-free months. Results: Forty randomized controlled trials were included. The 1-year relapse-free survival for ADM (76%) was significantly better than that for placebo (56%). Most of the relapse difference (86.5%) occurred in the first 6 months. Most HRs were not constant over time. Proof of benefit after 6 months of follow-up was not established partially because of small differences between the drug and placebo after 6 months. Almost all studies used an 'enriched' randomized discontinuation design, which may explain the high relapse rates in the first 6 months after randomization. Conclusions: The superiority of ADM v. placebo was mainly attributed to the difference in relapse rates that occurred in the first 6 months. Our analysis provided evidence that the prophylactic efficacy was not constant over time. A beneficial effect was observed, but the prevention of new episodes after 6 months was questionable. These findings may have implications for clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00332917
DOI:10.1017/S0033291720001610