Table 2.
Efficacy of interventions against Placebo/Wait-list/No treatment control.
| Age group | Setting | Outcome | Intervention | I/G/S | Control | N of estimates | % significance | ES type | ES (95% CI) min-max | Source | A / Q |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anorexia Nervosa | |||||||||||
| ADU | MIX | COG | PHARMA (HOR) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% NS | SMD | 0.06 (−0.34 – 0.46) | MA | 9/H |
| MIX | MIX | ACCEPT | PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 2 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 9 / H |
| PHARMA (SGA) | I | PBO | 2 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 6 / M | |||
| EDP | PHARMA (SGA) | I | PBO | 4 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 6 / M | ||
| GENSX | PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 2 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 8.5 / H | ||
| PHARMA (SGA) | I | PBO | 2 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 8 / H | |||
| SAFETY | PHARMA (SGA) | I | PBO | 2 | 100% DETR | RR | 0.27 (0.10 – 0.75) to 0.09 (0.02 – 0.34) | MA | 6 / M | ||
| WEIGHT/BODY | PHARMA (HOR) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | d | 0.42 (0.11 – 0.73) | MA | 9 / H | ||
| PHARMA (MIX) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | d | 0.33 (0.14 – 0.52) | MA | 9 / H | |||
| PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% NS | d | ns | MA | 9 / H | |||
| PHARMA (SGA) | I | PBO | 3 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 8 / H | |||
| Bulimia Nervosa | |||||||||||
| ADU | OUT | BEHAV | CBT-ED | G | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 0.56 (0.15 – 0.96) | MA | 9 / H |
| GENSX | CBT-ED | G | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 9 / H | ||
| GLOBAL | CBT-ED | G | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | RR | 1.29 (1.04 – 1.61) | MA | 9 / H | ||
| MIX | ACCEPT | CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 5 / M | |
| PT | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 5 / M | |||
| BEHAV | PT | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 1.22 (0.92 – 1.52) | MA | 5 / M | ||
| CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 1.01 (0.68 – 1.33) | MA | 5 / M | |||
| GENSX | CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 0.8 (0.37 – 1.22) | MA | 5 / M | ||
| PT | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 0.58 (0.18 – 0.98) | MA | 5 / M | |||
| GLOBAL | BT | G | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | OR | 28.7 (3.11 to 455) | NMA | 8 / H | ||
| CBT-ED | G | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | OR | 7.67 (1.51 – 55.7) | NMA | 8 / H | |||
| CBT-ED | S | WL/NT | 2 | 100% EFF | OR | 3.49 (1.20 – 11.2) to 3.81 (1.51 – 10.9) | NMA | 8 / H | |||
| CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 2 | 100% EFF | OR | 1.49 (1.28 – 1.72) to 3.89 (1.19 – 14.0) | MA; NMA | 6.5 / M | |||
| PT | I | WL/NT | 2 | 50% EFF; 50% NS | OR | ns to 1.54 (1.30 – 1.82) | NMA; MA | 6.5 / M | |||
| BT | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | OR | ns | NMA | 8 / H | |||
| EDU | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | OR | ns | NMA | 8 / H | |||
| IPT | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | OR | ns | NMA | 8 / H | |||
| MULTI | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | OR | ns | NMA | 8 / H | |||
| PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% NS | OR | ns | NMA | 8 / H | |||
| MIX | MIX | ACCEPT | PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 10 | 10% EFF; 70% NS; 20% DETR | RR | 0.52 (0.30 – 0.87) to 1.22 (1.01 – 1.47) | MA | 10 / H |
| CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 7 / M | |||
| PT | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 7 / M | |||
| BEHAV | PT | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 1.22 (0.92 – 1.52) | MA | 7 / M | ||
| CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 1.01 (0.68 – 1.33) | MA | 7 / M | |||
| PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 9 | 77.8% EFF; 22.2% NS | SMD | ns to 0.75 (0.38 – 1.12) | MA | 4 / M | |||
| CBT-ED | S | WL/NT | 4 | 75% EFF; 25% NS | SMD | ns to 0.44 (0.11 – 0.77) | MA | 10 / H | |||
| BEHAV FU | CBT-ED | S | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 10 / H | ||
| EDP | CBT-ED | S | WL/NT | 4 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 10 / H | ||
| EDP FU | CBT-ED | S | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 10 / H | ||
| F-QOL | EDU | S | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 7 / M | ||
| GENSX | CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 0.80 (0.37 – 1.22) | MA | 7 / M | ||
| PT | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 0.58 (0.18 – 0.98) | MA | 7 / M | |||
| EDU | S | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 7 / M | |||
| PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 3 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 10 / H | |||
| GLOBAL | PT | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | RR | 1.54 (1.30 – 1.82) | MA | 7 / M | ||
| CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | RR | 1.49 (1.28 – 1.72) | MA | 7 / M | |||
| PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 10 | 80% EFF; 20% NS | RR | ns to 3.45 (1.59 – 7.69) | MA | 10 / H | |||
| Binge-Eating Disorder | |||||||||||
| ADU | MIX | ACCEPT | PHARMA (STIM) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% DETR | RR | 0.46 (0.21 – 0.97) | MA | 9 / H |
| PHARMA (MS) | I | PBO | 2 | 50% NS; 50% DETR | RR | 0.52 (0.31 – 0.88) to ns | MA | 5 / M | |||
| BEHAV | PHARMA (STIM) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 0.56 (0.28 – 0.84) | MA | 9 / H | ||
| CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | MD | 2.32 (0.09 – 4.56) | MA | 11 / H | |||
| PHARMA (MS) | I | PBO | 2 | 100% EFF | MD | 0.98 (0.15 – 1.80) to 1.31 (0.03 – 2.58) | MA | 5 / M | |||
| PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | MD | 0.67 (0.09 – 1.26) | MA | 8 / H | |||
| EDP | PHARMA (STIM) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | MD | 6.50 (4.18 – 8.82) | MA | 8 / H | ||
| PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | MD | 3.84 (1.13 – 6.55) | MA | 8 / H | |||
| GENSX | PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | MD | 1.97 (0.28 – 3.67) | MA | 8 / H | ||
| PHARMA (MS) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 5 / M | |||
| GLOBAL | CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | RR | 4.95 (3.06 – 8.00) | MA | 8 / H | ||
| PHARMA (STIM) | I | PBO | 2 | 100% EFF | RR | 1.58 (1.35 – 1.84) to 2.43 (1.95 – 3.01) | MA | 9 / H | |||
| PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | RR | 1.67 (1.24 – 2.26) | MA | 8 / H | |||
| PHARMA (MS) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% NS | MD | ns | MA | 11 / H | |||
| SAFETY | PHARMA (STIM) | I | PBO | 2 | 100% DETR | RR | 0.61 (0.42 – 0.88) to 0.38 (0.23 – 0.61) | MA | 11 / H | ||
| WEIGHT/BODY | PHARMA (MS) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | MD | 4.91 (3.41 – 6.42) | MA | 5 / M | ||
| PHARMA (STIM) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 1.28 (1.06 – 1.51) | MA | 9 / H | |||
| PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 2 | 100% NS | MD | ns | MA | 8 / H | |||
| MIX | MIX | ACCEPT | PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 8 / H |
| PHARMA (ORL) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 8 / H | |||
| PHARMA (MIX) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 8 / H | |||
| PHARMA (MS) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 8 / H | |||
| BEHAV | PT | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | g | 0.89 (0.59 – 1.19) | MA | 7 / M | ||
| CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 0.83 (0.55 – 1.11) | MA | 9 / H | |||
| PHARMA (STIM) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | MD | 1.39 (1.12 – 1.66) | NMA | 6 / M | |||
| PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 3 | 66.7% EFF; 33.3% NS | MD | ns to 0.91 (0.28 – 1.54) | NMA, MA | 6 / M | |||
| CBT-ED | S | PBO | 2 | 50% EFF; 50% NS | SMD | ns to 0.51 (0.17 – 0.84) | MA | 9.5 / H | |||
| PHARMA (MS) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 9 / H | |||
| EDP | PT | I | WL/NT | 4 | 100% EFF | g | 0.77 (0.36 – 1.18) to 1.03 (0.38 – 1.69) | MA | 7 / M | ||
| PHARMA (STIM) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | MD | 6.51 (5.21 – 7.81) | NMA | 6 / M | |||
| PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | MD | 3.83 (1.43 – 6.24) | NMA | 6 / M | |||
| CBT-ED | S | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | MD | 0.58 (0.17 – 0.98) | MA | 9 / H | |||
| CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | MD | 0.50 (0.12 – 0.88) | MA | 9 / H | |||
| EDP FU | PT | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | g | 1.34 (0.87 – 1.82) | MA | 7 / M | ||
| GENSX | CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 0.42 (0.18 – 0.67) | MA | 9 / H | ||
| CBT-ED | S | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 0.35 (0.07 – 0.63) | MA | 9 / H | |||
| PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 6 | 83.3% EFF; 16.7% NS | MD/SMD | ns to MD 3.84 (1.12 – 6.55) / SMD 0.38 (0.03 – 0.74) | MA | 11 / H | |||
| PT | I | PBO | 2 | 100% NS | g | ns | MA | 7 / M | |||
| GLOBAL | CBT-ED | S | WL/NT | 2 | 100% EFF | RD/RR | RD 0.25 (0.12 – 0.38) / RR 4.58 (1.54 – 13.6) | MA | 9 / H | ||
| PHARMA (STIM) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | RR | 2.61 (2.04 – 3.33) | NMA | 6 / M | |||
| PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 3 | 100% EFF | RR | 1.23 (1.06 – 1.43) to 1.67 (1.24 – 2.26) | NMA, MA | 6 / M | |||
| PHARMA (MIX) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | RR | 1.35 (1.19 – 1.51) | MA | 8 / H | |||
| PHARMA (ORL) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | RR | 1.25 (1.06 – 1.45) | MA | 8 / H | |||
| CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | RD | 0.4 (0.3 – 0.5) | MA | 9.5 / H | |||
| PHARMA (MS) | I | PBO | 2 | 50% EFF; 50% NS | RR | ns to 1.59 (1.28 – 1.96) | MA | 8.5 / H | |||
| WEIGHT/BODY | PHARMA (STIM) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | MD | 5.23 (3.94 – 6.52) | MA | 9 / H | ||
| PHARMA (MS) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | WMD | 4.58 (3.79 – 5.36) | MA | 8 / H | |||
| PHARMA (ORL) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | WMD | 3.63 (2.87 – 4.40) | MA | 8 / H | |||
| PHARMA (MIX) | I | PBO | 1 | 100% EFF | WMD | 3.42 (2.58 – 4.25) | MA | 8 / H | |||
| PHARMA (AD) | I | PBO | 4 | 25% EFF; 75% NS | WMD | ns to 1.72 (0.37 – 3.06) | MA | 9 / H | |||
| CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 9 / H | |||
| CBT-ED | S | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 9 / H | |||
| Mixed Eating Disorders | |||||||||||
| ADU | MIX | ACCEPT | CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 5 / M |
| EDU | S | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 5 / M | |||
| BEHAV | CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 0.95 (0.68 – 1.22) | MA | 5 / M | ||
| EDU | S | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 5 / M | |||
| GLOBAL | CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | RR | 1.45 (1.25 – 1.69) | MA | 5 / M | ||
| WEIGHT/BODY | CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 0.33 (0.001 – 0.66) | MA | 5 / M | ||
| MIX | MIX | ACCEPT | CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 7 / M |
| EDU | S | WL/NT | 5 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 5 / M | |||
| PT | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 7 / M | |||
| BEHAV | PT | I | WL/NT | 4 | 100% EFF | SMD | 0.81 (0.58 – 1.04) to 1.14 (0.89 – 1.39) | MA | 8 / H | ||
| CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 0.94 (0.70 – 1.18) | MA | 7 / M | |||
| EDU | S | WL/NT | 11 | 54.5% EFF; 45.5% NS | SMD | ns to 0.98 (0.69 – 1.27) | MA | 7 / M | |||
| EDP | EDU | S | WL/NT | 2 | 100% EFF | SMD | 0.58 (0.37 – 0.79) to 0.71 (0.41 – 1.01) | MA | 9 / H | ||
| PT | I | WL/NT | 4 | 75% EFF; 25% NS | SMD | ns to 1.13 (0.61 – 1.66) | MA | 8 / H | |||
| F-QOL | EDU | S | WL/NT | 2 | 50% EFF; 50% NS | SMD | ns to 0.34 (0.02 – 0.67) | MA | 8 / H | ||
| CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 7 / M | |||
| PT | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | g | ns | MA | 9 / H | |||
| GENSX | PT | I | WL/NT | 5 | 100% EFF | SMD | 0.30 (0.13 – 0.47) to 0.71 (0.29 – 1.14) | MA | 7 / M | ||
| CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | SMD | 0.69 (0.30 – 1.08) | MA | 7 / M | |||
| EDU | S | WL/NT | 3 | 33.3% EFF; 66.7% NS | WMD | ns to 0.32 (0.13 – 0.51) | MA | 9 / H | |||
| GLOBAL | PT | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | RR | 1.59 (1.20 – 2.08) | MA | 7 / M | ||
| CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% EFF | RR | 1.45 (1.27 – 1.64) | MA | 7 / M | |||
| CBT-ED | S | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 10 / H | |||
| EDU | S | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | RR | ns | MA | 7 / M | |||
| WEIGHT/BODY | CBT-ED | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 7 / M | ||
| EDU | S | WL/NT | 2 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 8 / H | |||
| PT | I | WL/NT | 1 | 100% NS | SMD | ns | MA | 7 / M | |||
A, quality as per AMSTAR 0–11 score (median if >1 comparison); ACCEPT, acceptability; AD, antidepressants; ADU, adults; BEHAV, behavioural symptoms; BT, behavioural therapy; CBT-ED, cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders; CI, confidence interval; EDP, eating disorder psychopathology; EDU, psychoeducation; EFF, statistically significant difference that favours intervention; ES, effect size; F-QOL, functioning/quality of life; FU, at follow up; G, group intervention; g, Hedges’ g; GENSX, psychiatric general symptoms; GLOBAL, improvement/response/remission/relapse; I, individual intervention; IPT, interpersonal psychotherapy; MD, mean difference; MIX, mixed or not specified age group/setting/medications; MULTI, mixed active interventions; NS/ns, no statistically significant difference; OR, odds ratio; OUT, outpatient; PBO, placebo; PHARMA, pharmacological intervention; PT, psychotherapy; Q, quality level (L=low-AMSTAR <4, M=medium-AMSTAR 4 to 7, H=high-AMSTAR >7); RD, risk difference; RR, risk ratio; S, self-help intervention; SMD, standardized mean difference; WEIGHT/BODY, changes in weight/BMI/body composition; WL/NT, wait-list/no treatment; WMD, weighted mean difference.
Significant results are presented in bold. Results are ordered as significant ones first, ordered by ES magnitude and % significant comparisons, and then non-significant ones in alphabetical order.