Summary of findings 3. SSRIs compared to benzodiazepines for adults with panic disorder.
| SSRIs compared to benzodiazepines for adults with panic disorder | ||||||
| Patient or population: adults with panic disorder Settings: outpatient Intervention: SSRI Comparison: benzodiazepines | ||||||
| Outcomes | Illustrative comparative risks* (95% CI) | Relative effect (95% CI) | No of Participants (studies) | Quality of the evidence (GRADE) | Comments | |
| Assumed risk | Corresponding risk | |||||
| Benzodiazepines | SSRI | |||||
| failure to respond Follow‐up: 10 weeks | 195 per 1000 | 181 per 1000 (94 to 351) | RR 0.93 (0.48 to 1.80) | 154 (1 study) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ very low1,2 | |
| total number of dropouts Follow‐up: 10 | 221 per 1000 | 378 per 1000 (227 to 627) | RR 1.71 (1.03 to 2.84) | 154 (1 study) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ very low1,3 | |
| failure to remit Follow‐up: 10 weeks | 429 per 1000 | 480 per 1000 (339 to 681) | RR 1.12 (0.79 to 1.59) | 154 (1 study) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ very low1,2 | |
| panic symptoms | The mean panic symptoms in the intervention groups was 0.10 higher (0.34 lower to 0.54 higher) | 146 (1 study) | ⊕⊕⊝⊝ low1,4 | |||
| number of dropouts due to adverse effects Follow‐up: 10 weeks | 130 per 1000 | 156 per 1000 (71 to 339) | RR 1.20 (0.55 to 2.61) | 154 (1 study) | ⊕⊝⊝⊝ very low1,2 | |
| *The basis for the assumed risk (e.g. the median control group risk across studies) is provided in footnotes. The corresponding risk (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). CI: Confidence interval; RR: Risk ratio; | ||||||
| GRADE Working Group grades of evidence High quality: Further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect. Moderate quality: Further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate. Low quality: 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 quality: We are very uncertain about the estimate. | ||||||
1 Downgraded one point due to high dropout rates (30%) 2 Downgraded two points due to imprecision: number of individuals included in the trial is low (= 154) and 95% CI is wide, including benefit with SSRIs and benefit with benzodiazepines; only one study provides data 3 Downgraded two points due to imprecision: number of individuals included in the trial is low (= 154) and 95% CI ranges from no difference to appreciable superiority of with benzodiazepines in lowering the number of dropouts; only one study provides data 4 Downgraded one point due to imprecision: number of individuals included in the trial is low