NYMC Faculty Publications

Adjunctive Cariprazine for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: Number Needed to Treat, Number Needed to Harm, and Likelihood to Be Helped or Harmed

Author Type(s)

Faculty

DOI

10.1016/j.jad.2024.10.040

Journal Title

Journal of Affective Disorders

First Page

1238

Last Page

1247

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-15-2025

Department

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Keywords

Adjunctive cariprazine, Clinical relevance, Effect size, Major depressive disorder, Number needed to harm, Number needed to treat

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Background: The number needed to treat (NNT) for efficacy and number needed to harm (NNH) for tolerability/safety were evaluated for adjunctive cariprazine in major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: Data were extracted from five randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of adjunctive cariprazine in MDD. NNTs (response, remission, severity shift) and NNHs (discontinuations due to adverse events [AEs], AEs, laboratory shifts) were determined in dose groupings; likelihood to be helped/harmed (LHH) was calculated. Results: NNTs (95 % CI) for adjunctive cariprazine versus placebo were statistically significant at week 6/early termination for response on the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), as defined by a decrease in total score ≥ 50 % (doses ≥ 1 mg/d = 12 [9–21]; 1–2 mg/d = 12 [8–25]; 2–4.5 mg/d = 14 [9–43]) and other response/remission outcomes. NNHs for cariprazine versus placebo were generally ≥ 10 for AEs that were statistically significant; an apparent dose-response was seen for akathisia (lower dose = 24 [17–43]; higher dose = 9 [7–11]). LHHs were ≥ 1 (acceptable benefit/harm ratio) for MADRS total score response versus most important cariprazine AEs in most dose groupings. For response versus discontinuation because of an AE, adjunctive cariprazine 1–2 mg/d had a more favorable response/tolerability profile in indirect comparison with other approved atypical antipsychotics. Limitations: Post hoc analysis; indirect comparisons. Conclusions: Patients receiving adjunctive cariprazine encountered benefits more often than harms; NNT values at week 6/early termination were statistically significant versus placebo on response/remission outcomes across dose groupings from the five pooled studies. Adjunctive cariprazine was well tolerated; NNH values versus placebo were generally > 10, with better akathisia tolerability in the lower-dose range.

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