The efficacy of antidepressant medication and interpersonal psychotherapy for adult acute-phase depression: study protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data. Issue 2 (19th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Driessen, Ellen; Cohen, Zachary D.; Weissman, Myrna M.; Markowitz, John C.; Weitz, Erica S.; Hollon, Steven D.; Browne, Dillon T.; Rucci, Paola; Corda, Carolina; Menchetti, Marco; Bagby, R. Michael; Quilty, Lena C.; O'Hara, Michael W.; Zlotnick, Caron; Pearlstein, Teri; Blom, Marc B. J.; Altamura, Mario; Gois, Carlos; Schneider, Lon S.; Twisk, Jos W. R.; Cuijpers, Pim
• Is Part Of: BJPsych open. Volume 7:Issue 2(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02-19
• Subjects: Depression, -- antidepressant medication, -- interpersonal psychotherapy, -- efficacy, -- individual participant data meta-analysis; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental health -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2021.4
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2056-4724

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Antidepressant medication and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) are both recommended interventions in depression treatment guidelines based on literature reviews and meta-analyses. However, 'conventional' meta-analyses comparing their efficacy are limited by their reliance on reported study-level information and a narrow focus on depression outcome measures assessed at treatment completion. Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis, considered the gold standard in evidence synthesis, can improve the quality of the analyses when compared with conventional meta-analysis. Aims: We describe the protocol for a systematic review and IPD meta-analysis comparing the efficacy of antidepressants and IPT for adult acute-phase depression across a range of outcome measures, including depressive symptom severity as well as functioning and well-being, at both post-treatment and follow-up (PROSPERO: CRD42020219891). Method: We will conduct a systematic literature search in PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase and the Cochrane Library to identify randomised clinical trials comparing antidepressants and IPT in the acute-phase treatment of adults with depression. We will invite the authors of these studies to share the participant-level data of their trials. One-stage IPD meta-analyses will be conducted using mixed-effects models to assess treatment effects at post-treatment and follow-up for all outcome measures that are assessed in at least two studies. Conclusions: This will be the first IPD meta-analysis examining antidepressants versus IPT efficacy. This study has the potential to enhance our knowledge of depression treatment by comparing the short- and long-term effects of two widely used interventions across a range of outcome measures using state-of-the-art statistical techniques.