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Hassanzadeh E, Moradi G, Arasteh M, Moradi Y. The effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 criterion in patients with major depressive disorder without psychotic features: a systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:480. [PMID: 39256851 PMCID: PMC11389065 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01981-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
AIM In line with the publication of clinical information related to the therapeutic process of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and the updating of relevant treatment guidelines, the present meta-analysis study was designed and conducted to determine the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HDRS-17) criterion in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) without psychotic features. METHODS In this study, a systematic search was conducted in electronic databases such as PubMed [Medline], Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Ovid, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials. gov using relevant keywords. The search period in this study was from January 2000 to January 2022, which was updated until May 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that determined the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HDRS-17) criterion in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) without psychotic features were included in the analysis. The quality of the included RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias checklist. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA (Version 16) and RevMan (Version 5). RESULTS Following the combination of results from 16 clinical trial studies in the present meta-analysis, it was found that the mean Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HDRS-17) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) decreases by an average of 1.46 units (SMD: -1.46; % 95 CI: -1.65, -1.27, I square: 45.74%; P heterogeneity: 0.56). Subgroup analysis results indicated that the standardized mean difference of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HDRS-17) varied based on the number of treatment sessions: patients receiving 10 or fewer repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) sessions showed a mean Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HDRS-17) reduction of 2.60 units (SMD: -2.60; % 95 CI: -2.86, -2.33, I square: 55.12%; P heterogeneity: 0.55), while those receiving 11 to 20 sessions showed a mean Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HDRS-17) reduction of 0.28 units (SMD: -0.28; % 95 CI: -0.65, -0.09, I square: 39.91%; P heterogeneity: 0.89). CONCLUSION In conclusion, our meta-analysis demonstrates the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in reducing depressive symptoms in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. The complex results of subgroup analysis revealed insight on the possible benefits of a more focused strategy with fewer sessions, as well as the impact of treatment session frequency. These findings add to our understanding of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a therapeutic intervention for the treatment of major depressive illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Hassanzadeh
- Research Committee, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Ghobad Moradi
- Social Determinants of the Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Modabber Arasteh
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Yousef Moradi
- Social Determinants of the Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
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Vida RG, Sághy E, Bella R, Kovács S, Erdősi D, Józwiak-Hagymásy J, Zemplényi A, Tényi T, Osváth P, Voros V. Efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) adjunctive therapy for major depressive disorder (MDD) after two antidepressant treatment failures: meta-analysis of randomized sham-controlled trials. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:545. [PMID: 37501135 PMCID: PMC10375664 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05033-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several meta-analyses demonstrated the efficacy of unilateral High-Frequency Left-sided (HFL) repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD); however, results are contradictory due to heterogeneity of the included studies. METHODS A systematic literature review (SLR) of English language articles published since 2000 was performed in March 2022 on PubMed and Scopus databases. Empirical evidence on the relative efficacy of rTMS treatment compared with standard pharmacotherapy in Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) were extracted. Random effects models were used to assess the effects of rTMS on response and remission rates. RESULTS 19 randomized double-blinded sham-controlled studies were included for quantitative analysis for response (n = 854 patients) and 9 studies for remission (n = 551 patients). The risk ratio (RR) for response and remission are 2.25 and 2.78, respectively for patients after two treatment failures using rTMS as add-on treatment compared to standard pharmacotherapy. Cochrane's Q test showed no significant heterogeneity. No publication bias was detected. CONCLUSIONS rTMS is significantly more effective than sham rTMS in TRD in response and remission outcomes and may be beneficial as an adjunctive treatment in patients with MDD after two treatment failures. This finding is consistent with previous meta-analyses; however, the effect size was smaller than in the formerly published literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Róbert György Vida
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Eszter Sághy
- Center for Health Technology Assessment and Pharmacoeconomic Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Richárd Bella
- Center for Health Technology Assessment and Pharmacoeconomic Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Sándor Kovács
- Center for Health Technology Assessment and Pharmacoeconomic Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Dalma Erdősi
- Center for Health Technology Assessment and Pharmacoeconomic Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Judit Józwiak-Hagymásy
- Center for Health Technology Assessment and Pharmacoeconomic Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Antal Zemplényi
- Center for Health Technology Assessment and Pharmacoeconomic Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Tamás Tényi
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Center, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Péter Osváth
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Center, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Viktor Voros
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Clinical Center, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
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Yu T, Chen W, Huo L, Luo X, Wang J, Zhang B. Association between daily dose and efficacy of rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in depression: A meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res 2023; 325:115260. [PMID: 37229909 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a well-established, safe, and effective brain stimulation technique for depression; however, uniform parameters have not been used in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to identify the parameters that affect rTMS effectiveness and ascertain the range in which that parameter has optimal efficacy. A meta-analysis of sham-controlled trials using rTMS delivered over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in depression was conducted. In the meta-regression and subgroup analyses, all rTMS stimulation parameters were extracted and their association with efficacy was investigated. Of the 17,800 references, 52 sham-controlled trials were included. Compared to sham controls, our results demonstrated a significant improvement in depressive symptoms at the end of treatment. According to the results of meta-regression, the number of pulses and sessions per day correlated with rTMS efficacy; however, the positioning method, stimulation intensity, frequency, number of treatment days, and total pulses did not. Furthermore, subgroup analysis revealed that the efficacy was correspondingly better in the group with higher daily pulses. In clinical practice, increasing the number of daily pulses and sessions may improve the effectiveness of rTMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Yu
- Department of Psychiatry, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, PR. China; The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, PR. China
| | - Wangni Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, PR. China; The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, PR. China
| | - Lijuan Huo
- Department of Psychiatry, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, PR. China; The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, PR. China
| | - Xin Luo
- Department of Psychiatry, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, PR. China; The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, PR. China
| | - Jijun Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR. China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, PR. China.
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Gonterman F. A Systematic Review Assessing Patient-Related Predictors of Response to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Major Depressive Disorder. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2023; 19:565-577. [PMID: 36919097 PMCID: PMC10008378 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s388164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The safety and efficacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the acute treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) is well established. However, it is not well understood which patient-related factors are associated with a more robust antidepressant response. Identifying predictive factors for therapeutic response to TMS treatment in depression will guide clinicians in patient selection. Methods By systematic review of clinical trial data, the current study aims to identify and analyze reported patient-specific predictors of response to an acute course of TMS treatment for MDD. PubMed was searched for randomized controlled trials of TMS for patients with depression. Studies were appraised for risk of bias using components recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Results TMS data were available from 375 studies, 18 of which were included in this review. Treatment response is inversely associated with treatment refractoriness and age. Conclusion Inadequate sample size and large heterogeneity in study parameters among clinical trials limit any strong conclusions from being drawn; nonetheless, despite these limitations, there is mounting evidence, which points to age and treatment refractoriness as candidate variables for predicting clinical outcome. Implications of these findings for treatment of MDD are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Gonterman
- Department of Population Health Science & Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Counseling & Clinical Psychology, Teachers College Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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The Association Between Sample and Treatment Characteristics and the Efficacy of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Depression: A Meta-analysis and Meta-regression of Sham-controlled Trials. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 141:104848. [PMID: 36049675 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a form of non-invasive neuromodulation that is increasingly used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD). However, treatment with rTMS could be optimized by identifying optimal treatment parameters or characteristics of patients that are most likely to benefit. This meta-analysis and meta-regression aims to identify sample and treatment characteristics that are associated with change in depressive symptom level, treatment response and remission. METHODS The databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane library were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting on the therapeutic efficacy of high-frequent, low-frequent, or bilateral rTMS for MDD compared to sham. Study and sample characteristics as well as rTMS parameters and outcome variables were extracted. Effect sizes were calculated for change in depression score and risk ratios for response and remission. RESULTS Sixty-five RCTs with a total of 2982 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. Active rTMS resulted in a larger depressive symptom reduction than sham protocol (Hedges' g = -0.791 95% CI -0.977; -0.605). Risk ratios for response and remission were 2.378 (95% CI 1.882; 3.005) and 2.450 (95% CI 1.779; 3.375), respectively. We found no significant association between sample and treatment parameters and rTMS efficacy. CONCLUSIONS rTMS is an efficacious treatment for MDD. No associations between sample or treatment characteristics and efficacy were found, for which we caution that publication bias, heterogeneity and lack of consistency in the definition of remission might bias these latter null findings. Our results are clinically relevant and support the use of rTMS as a non-invasive and effective treatment option for depression.
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Adu MK, Shalaby R, Chue P, Agyapong VIO. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Treatment of Resistant Depression: A Scoping Review. Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 12:bs12060195. [PMID: 35735405 PMCID: PMC9220129 DOI: 10.3390/bs12060195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is associated with significant disability, and due to its high prevalence, it results in a substantive socio-economic burden at a global level. TRD is the inability to accomplish and/or achieve remission after an adequate trial of antidepressant treatments. Studies comparing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and pharmacotherapy have revealed evidence of the therapeutic efficacy of rTMS in TRD. These findings suggest a crucial role for rTMS in the management of TRD. This article aims to conduct a comprehensive scoping review of the current literature concerning the use of rTMS and its therapeutic efficacy as a treatment modality for TRD. PubMed, PsycINFO, Medline, Embase, and Cinahl were used to identify important articles on rTMS for TRD. The search strategy was limited to English articles within the last five years of data publication. Articles were included if they reported on a completed randomized controlled trial (RCT) of rTMS intervention for TRD. The exclusion criteria involved studies with rTMS for the treatment of conditions other than TRD, and study and experimental protocols of rTMS on TRD. In total, 17 studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. The search strategy spanned studies published in the last five years, to the date of the data search (14 February 2022). The regional breakdown of the extracted studies was North American (n = 9), European (n = 5), Asian (n = 2) and Australian (n = 1). The applied frequencies of rTMS ranged from 5 Hz to 50 Hz, with stimulation intensities ranging from 80% MT to 120% MT. Overall, 16 out of the 17 studies suggested that rTMS treatment was effective, safe and tolerated in TRD. For patients with TRD, rTMS appears to provide significant benefits through the reduction of depressive symptoms, and while there is progressive evidence in support of the same, more research is needed in order to define standardized protocols of rTMS application in terms of localization, frequency, intensity, and pulse parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Medard Kofi Adu
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 1E1 Walter Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre (WMC), 8440 112 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada; (R.S.); (P.C.); (V.I.O.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Reham Shalaby
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 1E1 Walter Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre (WMC), 8440 112 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada; (R.S.); (P.C.); (V.I.O.A.)
| | - Pierre Chue
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 1E1 Walter Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre (WMC), 8440 112 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada; (R.S.); (P.C.); (V.I.O.A.)
| | - Vincent I. O. Agyapong
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 1E1 Walter Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre (WMC), 8440 112 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada; (R.S.); (P.C.); (V.I.O.A.)
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
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Tsai YC, Li CT, Liang WK, Muggleton NG, Tsai CC, Huang NE, Juan CH. Critical role of rhythms in prefrontal transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression: A randomized sham-controlled study. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 43:1535-1547. [PMID: 34873781 PMCID: PMC8886663 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an alternative treatment for depression, but the neural correlates of the treatment are currently inconclusive, which might be a limit of conventional analytical methods. The present study aimed to investigate the neurophysiological evidence and potential biomarkers for rTMS and intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) treatment. A total of 61 treatment‐resistant depression patients were randomly assigned to receive prolonged iTBS (piTBS; N = 19), 10 Hz rTMS (N = 20), or sham stimulation (N = 22). Each participant went through a treatment phase with resting state electroencephalography (EEG) recordings before and after the treatment phase. The aftereffects of stimulation showed that theta‐alpha amplitude modulation frequency (fam) was associated with piTBS_Responder, which involves repetitive bursts delivered in the theta frequency range, whereas alpha carrier frequency (fc) was related to 10 Hz rTMS, which uses alpha rhythmic stimulation. In addition, theta‐alpha amplitude modulation frequency was positively correlated with piTBS antidepressant efficacy, whereas the alpha frequency was not associated with the 10 Hz rTMS clinical outcome. The present study showed that TMS stimulation effects might be lasting, with changes of brain oscillations associated with the delivered frequency. Additionally, theta‐alpha amplitude modulation frequency may be as a function of the degree of recovery in TRD with piTBS treatment and also a potential EEG‐based predictor of antidepressant efficacy of piTBS in the early treatment stage, that is, first 2 weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Chun Tsai
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, College of Health Sciences and Technology, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Ta Li
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, College of Health Sciences and Technology, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Kuang Liang
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, College of Health Sciences and Technology, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.,Cognitive Intelligence and Precision Healthcare Center, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Neil G Muggleton
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, College of Health Sciences and Technology, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.,Cognitive Intelligence and Precision Healthcare Center, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Chong-Chih Tsai
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, College of Health Sciences and Technology, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.,Cognitive Intelligence and Precision Healthcare Center, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Norden E Huang
- Key Laboratory of Data Analysis and Applications, First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao, China
| | - Chi-Hung Juan
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, College of Health Sciences and Technology, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.,Cognitive Intelligence and Precision Healthcare Center, National Central University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.,Department of Psychology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Jones BDM, Razza LB, Weissman CR, Karbi J, Vine T, Mulsant LS, Brunoni AR, Husain MI, Mulsant BH, Blumberger DM, Daskalakis ZJ. Magnitude of the Placebo Response Across Treatment Modalities Used for Treatment-Resistant Depression in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2125531. [PMID: 34559231 PMCID: PMC8463940 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.25531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The placebo effect in depression clinical trials is a substantial factor associated with failure to establish efficacy of novel and repurposed treatments. However, the magnitude of the placebo effect and whether it differs across treatment modalities in treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is unclear. OBJECTIVE To examine the magnitude of the placebo effect in patients with TRD across different treatment modalities and its possible moderators. DATA SOURCES Searches were conducted on MEDLINE, Web of Science, and PsychInfo from inception to June 21, 2021. STUDY SELECTION Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included if they recruited patients with TRD and randomized them to a placebo or sham arm and a pharmacotherapy, brain stimulation, or psychotherapy arm. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Independent reviewers used standard forms for data extraction and quality assessment. Random-effects analyses and standard pairwise meta-analyses were performed. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was the Hedges g value for the reported depression scales. Secondary outcomes included moderators assessed via meta-regression and response and remission rates. Heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 test, and publication bias was evaluated using the Egger test and a funnel plot. Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used to estimate risks. RESULTS Fifty RCTs were included involving various types of placebo or sham interventions with a total of 3228 participants (mean [SD] age, 45.8 [6.0] years; 1769 [54.8%] female). The pooled placebo effect size for all modalities was large (g = 1.05; 95% CI, 0.91-1.1); the placebo effect size in RCTs of specific treatment modalities did not significantly differ. Similarly, response and remission rates associated with placebo were comparable across modalities. Heterogeneity was large. Three variables were associated with a larger placebo effect size: open-label prospective treatment before double-blind placebo randomization (β = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.59; P = .004), later year of publication (β = 0.03; 95% CI, 0.003 to 0.05; P = .03), and industry-sponsored trials (β = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.58; P = .007). The number of failed interventions was associated with the probability a smaller placebo effect size (β = -0.12; 95% CI, -0.23 to -0.01, P = .03). The Egger test result was not significant for small studies' effects. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This analysis may provide a benchmark for past and future clinical RCTs that recruit patients with TRD standardizing an expected placebo effect size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett D. M. Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lais B. Razza
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, Instituto Nacional de Biomarcadores em Neuropsiquiatria, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cory R. Weissman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jewel Karbi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tya Vine
- Michael G. Degroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Andre R. Brunoni
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, Instituto Nacional de Biomarcadores em Neuropsiquiatria, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - M. Ishrat Husain
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Benoit H. Mulsant
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel M. Blumberger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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