evidence

Comparing the Efficacy of Benzodiazepines and Serotonergic Anti-Depressants for Adults with Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A meta-analytic review - PMC

11 empirical findings extracted from peer-reviewed research.

Source

Comparing the Efficacy of Benzodiazepines and Serotonergic Anti-Depressants for Adults with Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A meta-analytic review - PMC

View original source | 10741 words | 11 findings extracted

Key Findings

  • A comprehensive literature search yielded 54 articles reporting 56 unique studies with 12,655 participants.

    • 54 articles, 56 studies, N=12,655 (N=12.7K) [2018]
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | meta-analysis

  • Participants were treated with either pill placebo (6,191 participants), SSRIs (16 trials, 2,712 participants), SNRIs (17 trials, 2,603 participants), or BZs (23 trials, 1,149 participants).

    • Placebo N=6,191; SSRI N=2,712 (16 trials); SNRI N=2,603 (17 trials); BZ N=1,149 (23 trials) (N=12.7K) [2018]
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | meta-analysis

  • SNRIs demonstrated significantly lower effect sizes (Hedges’ g = 0.36) compared to Benzodiazepines (Hedges’ g = 0.50).

    • SNRI Hedges’ g = 0.36, BZ Hedges’ g = 0.50 (N=12.7K) [2018]
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | meta-analysis

  • Effect sizes decreased significantly over time.

    • significant decrease over time (N=12.7K) [2018]
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | meta-analysis

  • SSRIs demonstrated significantly lower effect sizes (Hedges’ g = 0.33) compared to Benzodiazepines (Hedges’ g = 0.50).

    • SSRI Hedges’ g = 0.33, BZ Hedges’ g = 0.50 (N=12.7K) [2018]
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | meta-analysis

  • The overall combined effect size across all SSRIs, SNRIs, and BZs versus placebo was Hedges’ g = 0.37 (p < 0.0001).

    • Hedges’ g = 0.37 (p < 0.0001) (N=12.7K) [2018]
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | meta-analysis

  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has an estimated 12-month prevalence between 0.2-2.9%, and an estimated lifetime prevalence between 2.8-6.2%.

    • 12-month prevalence: 0.2-2.9%, lifetime prevalence: 2.8-6.2%
    • 🟠 Hypothesis | cross-sectional

  • The combined overall effect size (Hedges’ g) of Benzodiazepines (BZs) for GAD was 0.38 (SD =0.15, p< 0.0001).

    • Hedges’ g = 0.38 (SD = 0.15, p < 0.0001)
    • 🟠 Hypothesis | rct

  • Randomized-controlled trials suggest that 60-75% of patients respond to SSRIs compared to 40-60% of patients receiving placebo, with similar response rates for SNRIs and BZs.

    • SSRI response rate: 60-75% vs. placebo: 40-60%
    • 🟠 Hypothesis | rct

  • SNRIs have an effect size of 0.42 (SD =0.12, p <0.0001) for treating GAD.

    • Hedges’ g = 0.42 (SD = 0.12, p <0.0001)
    • 🟠 Hypothesis | rct

  • One study reported an overall combined effect size (Hedges’ g) of 0.36 (SD =0.09, p <0.0001) for SSRIs in treating GAD.

    • Hedges’ g = 0.36 (SD = 0.09, p <0.0001)
    • 🟠 Hypothesis | rct

Confidence Summary

Tier Count Description
🟢 Irrefutable 0 Meta-analyses, large RCTs, Cochrane reviews
🟡 Strong Signal 6 Multiple studies, large surveys
🟠 Hypothesis 5 Single study, small N, preliminary