scholarly journals Efficacy and acceptability of adjunctive psychological and pharmacological interventions for treatment-resistant depression: protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e028538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ishrat Husain ◽  
Rebecca Strawbridge ◽  
Ben Carter ◽  
Brett D M Jones ◽  
Allan Young ◽  
...  

IntroductionMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is a common debilitating illness worldwide. The vast majority of patients with MDD will not achieve remission with first-line treatment and despite the availability of different treatment modalities, at least one-third of patients experience treatment-resistant depression (TRD). There continues to be a paucity of research focused on treatment options for patients with TRD thus treatment decisions are largely based on patient and clinician preference as opposed to evidence-based practice. Herein we propose a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of available pharmacological and psychological augmentation treatments for TRD, to inform evidence-based management of TRD.Methods and analysisWe plan to conduct a search of electronic databases (MEDLINE and ISIWEB) of all dates from inception for randomised controlled trials of pharmacological and psychological augmentation interventions for adults with TRD. Articles for review will be included based upon consensus from two authors. Pharmaceutical companies will be contacted for access to any unpublished data. An NMA will compare the effectiveness pharmacological adjunctive agents for TRD using preanalysis/postanalysis, assuming consistency and transitivity.Ethics and disseminationThis project does not require research ethics board approval. The dissemination plan is to present findings at international scientific meetings and publishing results in a peer-reviewed academic journal.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019132588.

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S261-S262
Author(s):  
Brett D M Jones ◽  
Cory R. Weissman ◽  
Jewel Karbi ◽  
Tya Vine ◽  
Louise S. Mulsant ◽  
...  

AimsThe placebo response in depression clinical trials is a major contributing factor for failure to establish the efficacy of novel and repurposed treatments. However, it is not clear as to what the placebo response in treatment-resistant depression (TRD) patients is or whether it differs across treatment modalities. Our objective was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the magnitude of the placebo response in TRD patients across different treatment modalities and its possible moderators.MethodSearches were conducted on MEDLINE and PsychInfo from inception to January 24, 2020. Only studies that recruited TRD patients and randomization to a placebo (or sham) arm in a pharmacotherapy, brain stimulation, or psychotherapy study were included (PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020190465). The primary outcome was the Hedges’ g for the reported depression scale using a random-effects model. Secondary outcomes included moderators assessed via meta-regression and response and remission rate. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the Egger's Test and a funnel plot. Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used to estimate risks.Result46 studies met our inclusion criteria involving a total of 3083 participants (mean (SD) age: 45.7 (6.2); female: 52.4%). The pooled placebo effect for all modalities was large (N = 3083, g = 1.08 ,95% CI [0.95-1.20)I 2 = 0.1). The placebo effect in studies of specific treatment modalities did not significantly differ: oral medications g = 1.14 (95%CI:0.99-1.29); parenteral medications g = 1.32 (95%CI:0.59-2.04); ayahuasca g = 0.47 (95%CI:-0.28-1.17); rTMS g = 0.93 (95%CI:0.63-1.23); tDCS g = 1.32 (95%CI:0.52-2.11); invasive brain stimulation g = 1.06 (95%CI:0.64-1.47). There were no psychotherapy trials that met our eligibility criteria. Similarly, response and remission rates were comparable across modalities. Heterogeneity was large. Two variables predicted a lager placebo effect: open-label prospective design (B:0.32, 95%CI: 0.05-0.58; p:0.02) and sponsoring by a pharmaceutical or medical device company (B:0.39, 95%CI:0.13-0.65, p:0.004)). No risk of publication bias was found.ConclusionThe overall placebo effect in TRD studies was large (g = 1.08) and did not differ among treatment modalities. A better understanding of the placebo response in TRD will require: standardizing the definition of TRD, head-to-head comparisons of treatment modalities, an assessment of patient expectations and experiences, and standardized reporting of outcomes.


2018 ◽  
Vol 214 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Strawbridge ◽  
Ben Carter ◽  
Lindsey Marwood ◽  
Borwin Bandelow ◽  
Dimosthenis Tsapekos ◽  
...  

BackgroundDepression is considered to have the highest disability burden of all conditions. Although treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a key contributor to that burden, there is little understanding of the best treatment approaches for it and specifically the effectiveness of available augmentation approaches.AimsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to search and quantify the evidence of psychological and pharmacological augmentation interventions for TRD.MethodParticipants with TRD (defined as insufficient response to at least two antidepressants) were randomised to at least one augmentation treatment in the trial. Pre-post analysis assessed treatment effectiveness, providing an effect size (ES) independent of comparator interventions.ResultsOf 28 trials, 3 investigated psychological treatments and 25 examined pharmacological interventions. Pre-post analyses demonstrated N-methyl-d-aspartate-targeting drugs to have the highest ES (ES = 1.48, 95% CI 1.25–1.71). Other than aripiprazole (four studies, ES = 1.33, 95% CI 1.23–1.44) and lithium (three studies, ES = 1.00, 95% CI 0.81–1.20), treatments were each investigated in less than three studies. Overall, pharmacological (ES = 1.19, 95% CI 1.08–1.30) and psychological (ES = 1.43, 95% CI 0.50–2.36) therapies yielded higher ESs than pill placebo (ES = 0.78, 95% CI 0.66–0.91) and psychological control (ES = 0.94, 95% CI 0.36–1.52).ConclusionsDespite being used widely in clinical practice, the evidence for augmentation treatments in TRD is sparse. Although pre-post meta-analyses are limited by the absence of direct comparison, this work finds promising evidence across treatment modalities.Declaration of interestIn the past 3 years, A.H.Y. received honoraria for speaking from AstraZeneca, Lundbeck, Eli Lilly and Sunovion; honoraria for consulting from Allergan, Livanova and Lundbeck, Sunovion and Janssen; and research grant support from Janssen. In the past 3 years, A.J.C. received honoraria for speaking from AstraZeneca and Lundbeck; honoraria for consulting with Allergan, Janssen, Livanova, Lundbeck and Sandoz; support for conference attendance from Janssen; and research grant support from Lundbeck. B.B. has recently been (soon to be) on the speakers/advisory board for Hexal, Lilly, Lundbeck, Mundipharma, Pfizer, and Servier. No other conflicts of interest.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e041349
Author(s):  
Brett D M Jones ◽  
Cory R Weissman ◽  
Lais B Razza ◽  
M Ishrat Husain ◽  
Andre R Brunoni ◽  
...  

IntroductionThe high placebo response in depression treatment trials is a major contributing factor for randomised control trial failure to establish efficacy of novel or repurposed treatments in treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and major depressive disorder in general. Though there have been a number of meta-analyses and primary research studies evaluating the placebo response in non-TRD, placebo response in TRD is poorly understood. It is important to understand the placebo response of TRD as treatments are only moderately effective and up to 1/3 of patients will experience TRD.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a search of electronic databases (MEDLINE and PsychINFO) from inception to 24th January 2020 including randomised, placebo-controlled trials of pharmacological, somatic and psychological interventions for adults with TRD. TRD will be defined as a failure to respond to at least two interventions of adequate dose or duration. We will also search reference lists from review articles. We will perform several meta-analyses to quantify the placebo response for each treatment modality. Regression analysis will explore potential contributing demographic and clinical variables to the placebo response. We will use Cochrane risk of bias tool.Ethics and disseminationThere is no research ethics board approval required. The dissemination plan is to publish results in a peer-reviewed academic journal.PROSPERO registration number190 465.


2018 ◽  
Vol 214 (5) ◽  
pp. 308-308
Author(s):  
Rebecca Strawbridge ◽  
Ben Carter ◽  
Lindsey Marwood ◽  
Borwin Bandelow ◽  
Dimosthenis Tsapekos ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 477-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Carter ◽  
Rebecca Strawbridge ◽  
Muhammad Ishrat Husain ◽  
Brett D. M. Jones ◽  
Roxanna Short ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 254 ◽  
pp. 153
Author(s):  
Dr Rebecca Strawbridge ◽  
Dr Ben Carter ◽  
Dr Lindsey Marwood ◽  
Professor Borwin Bandelow ◽  
Dimosthenis Tsapekos ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 244-252
Author(s):  
Kah K. Goh ◽  
Shen-Chieh Chang ◽  
Chun-Hsin Chen ◽  
Mong-Liang Lu

In this narrative review, we intended to summarize the evidence of pharmacological and somatic treatment choices for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). There are several types of therapeutic strategies to improve inadequate response to antidepressant treatment. The first step for patients with TRD is to optimize the dosage and duration of antidepressants as well as to ensure their drug compliance. The shift to antidepressant and antidepressant combination therapy for patients with TRD cannot be regarded as an evidence-based strategy. Only the combination of a monoamine reuptake inhibitor with a presynaptic α2-autoreceptor antagonist might have better efficacy than other antidepressant combinations. Currently, the most evidence-based treatment options for TRD are augmentation strategies. Among augmentative agents, second-generation antipsychotics and lithium have the strongest evidence for the management of TRD. Further studies are needed to evaluate the augmentative efficacy of anticonvulsants, thyroid hormone, glutamatergic agents, anti-inflammatory agents, and nutraceuticals for TRD. Among somatic therapies, electroconvulsive therapy and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation are effective for TRD. Further studies are warranted to provide clinicians with a better recommendation in making treatment choices in patients with TRD.


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