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. 2016 Sep 12;2016(9):CD011567. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011567.pub2

Summary of findings 5. TCA compared to MAOI for adults with panic disorder.

TCA compared to MAOI for adults with panic disorder
Patient or population: adults with panic disorder
 Settings: outpatient
 Intervention: TCA
 Comparison: MAOI
Outcomes Illustrative comparative risks* (95% CI) Relative effect
 (95% CI) No of Participants
 (studies) Quality of the evidence
 (GRADE) Comments
Assumed risk Corresponding risk
MAOI TCA
failure to respond 
 Follow‐up: 8 weeks 224 per 1000 132 per 1000 
 (63 to 282) RR 0.59 
 (0.28 to 1.26) 135
 (1 study) ⊕⊕⊝⊝
 low1  
total number of dropouts 386 per 1000 324 per 1000 
 (235 to 452) RR 0.84 
 (0.61 to 1.17) 228
 (2 studies) ⊕⊕⊕⊝
 moderate2  
failure to remit See comment See comment Not estimable 0
 (0) See comment No studies provided data for this outcome
panic symptoms 
 Follow‐up: 8 weeks   The mean panic symptoms in the intervention groups was
 0.20 lower 
 (0.75 lower to 0.35 higher)   135
 (1 study) ⊕⊕⊝⊝
 low3  
number of dropouts due to adverse events 
 Follow‐up: 8 weeks 104 per 1000 133 per 1000 
 (52 to 335) RR 1.27 
 (0.5 to 3.21) 135
 (1 study) ⊕⊕⊝⊝
 low4  
*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 two points due to imprecision: number of individuals included in the study is low (= 135) and 95% CI ranges from appreciable benefit with TCAs to no difference; only one study provides data
 2 Downgraded one point due high dropout rates
 3 Downgraded two points due to imprecision: number of individuals included in the study is low (= 135) and 95% CI ranges from appreciable benefit with TCAs to no difference; only one study provides data.
 4 Downgrded two points due to imprecision: number of individuals included in the study is low (= 135) and 95% CI ranges from appreciable benefit with TCAs to appreciable benefit with MAOIs; only one study provides data.