Table 2.

Characteristics of papers included in the meta-analysis

Study	Mean age	Sex		IBS subtype	Type of TCA	Daily dosage	Duration of treatment/follow up (wk)
		Female	Male
Vahedi et al[16], 2008	36	21	29	D-IBS	Amitriptyline	10 mg	8
Talley et al[17], 2008	ND	21	13	D-IBS, C-IBS, Alt-IBS	Imipramine	2 wk: 25 mg; Thereafter to the end: 50 mg	12
Morgan et al[18], 2005	39	22	0	D-IBS, C-IBS, Alt-IBS	Amitriptyline	First week: 25 mg; Thereafter to the end: 50 mg	4
Rajagopalan et al[19], 1998	34.8	11	11	ND	Amitriptyline	First week: 25 mg; 2nd week: 50 mg; Thereafter to the end: 75 mg	12
Vij et al[20], 1991	32.5	14	36	D-IBS, C-IBS, Alt-IBS	Doxepin	75 mg	6
Greenbaum et al[21], 1987	45.2	18	11	D-IBS, C-IBS	Desipramine	First week: 50 mg; 2nd week: 100 mg; Thereafter to the end: 150 mg	6
Tripathi et al[22], 1983	37	ND	ND	ND	Trimipramine	30 mg	5

IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome; D: Diarrhoea predominant; Alt: Alternating; C: Constipation predominant; TCA: Tricyclic antidepressant.