Table 4.
Numbers needed to treat for benefit for ECT (versus controls) and for VNS + TAU (versus TAU)
| Number needed to treat (for benefit) | 95% confidence interval | |
|---|---|---|
| Acute studies | ||
| RCT (ECT vs TCA control)31 | 5 | 2 to 2676 |
| RCT (ECT vs MAOI control)31 | 3 | 2 to 3 |
| Non-RCT (ECT vs ADa control)3 | 4 | 3 to 9 |
| At 12 weeks, VNS + TAU vs TAU | 8 | 6 to 12 |
| Week 24 NNTs from 24-week long studies | ||
| ECT + nortriptyline vs placebo control32 | 4 | 2 to 83 |
| ECT + nortriptyline/lithium vs placebo control32 | 2 | 1 to 4 |
| VNS + TAU vs TAU | 7 | 5 to 12 |
| Week 48 and 96 NNTs from 48 and 96-week long studies | ||
| At 48 weeks, VNS + TAU vs TAU | 6 | 4 to 9 |
| At 96 weeks, VNS + TAU vs TAU | 4 | 3 to 6 |
Note:aAntidepressants included tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and lithium.
Abbreviations: AD, antidepressants; ECT, electroconvulsive therapy; MAOI, monoamine oxidase inhibitors; RCT, randomized clinical trial; TAU, treatment as usual; TCA, tricyclic antidepressant; VNS, vagus nerve stimulation.