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. 2023 May 10;2023(5):CD014682. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD014682.pub2

13. Physical function summary of findings.

Estimates of effects, credible intervals, and certainty of the evidence of antidepressants on physical function in people with chronic pain
Bayesian network meta‐analysis summary of findings table
Patient or population: people with chronic pain
Interventions: duloxetine standard dose (60 mg) and high dose (> 60 mg); milnacipran standard dose (100 mg) and high dose (> 100 mg); mirtazapine standard dose (30 mg)
Comparator (reference): placebo
Outcome: change in physical function (lower scores are better) from a range of measures, including Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and the SF‐36
Direction: lower is better (i.e. a greater improvement in physical function and disability)
Total studies: 32
Total participants: 11,760
Relative effect Anticipated absolute effect (event rate) Certainty of the evidence (CINeMA) Ranking*
(2.5% to 97.5% credible interval)
Interpretation of findings**
With placebo With intervention Difference
Duloxetine standard dose
RCTs: 15
Participants: 3887
SMD0.24
(−0.32 to −0.18)
High 6
(3 to 8)
Small effect
Duloxetine high dose
RCTs: 13
Participants: 3503
SMD0.23
(−0.30 to −0.16)
Moderatea 6
(2 to 9)
Small effect
Milnacipran standard dose
RCTs: 3
Participants: 1840
SMD0.18
(−0.30 to −0.07)
Moderatea 7
(4 to 11)
Small effect
Milnacipran high dose
RCTs: 2
Participants: 1670
SMD0.1
(−0.22 to 0.07)
Very lowa,c 9
(6 to 13)
Not significantly different from placebo
Mirtazapine standard dose
RCTs: 1
Participants: 204
SMD 0.62
(0.11 to 0.69)
Very lowe 16
(15 to 16)
Moderate to large effect
Network meta‐analysis‐summary of findings table definitions
** Mean rank and credible intervals are presented.
**SMD interpretation based on clinical judgement and in line with Cohen 1988 and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Schünemann 2022) as small (0.2), moderate (0.5) and large (0.8).
CI: confidence interval; CINeMA: Confidence in Network Meta‐Analysis; RCT: randomised controlled trial; SMD: standardised mean difference; VAS: visual analogue scale
The number of participants for each antidepressant reflects the total number of participants taking the antidepressant or placebo from the studies in the network meta‐analysis.
CINeMA grades of confidence in the evidence
High: further research is unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect.
Moderate: further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate.
Low: further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate.
Very low: we are very uncertain about the estimate.

aDowngraded due to within‐study bias.
bDowngraded due to imprecision in the estimate.
cDowngraded due to heterogeneity in the estimate.
dDowngraded due to incoherence in the network.
eDowngraded due to a small number of trials and participants; we cannot draw reliable conclusions.