Hsu, Tien-Wei, et al. "Efficacy of serotonergic antidepressant treatment for the neuropsychiatric symptoms and agitation in dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis." Ageing Research Reviews 69 (2021): 101362.Â
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Analysis: In our conversation, we discussed a meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials that examined the effect of serotonergic antidepressants on neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia. The study found that serotonergic antidepressants were effective in reducing overall neuropsychiatric symptoms, agitation, and depressive symptoms in patients with dementia. The study also found a small improvement in cognition, but the effect size was not substantial.
Positive criticisms of the study include the large number of randomized controlled trials included in the meta-analysis and the comprehensive examination of the effect of serotonergic antidepressants on multiple aspects of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia. Additionally, the study highlights the potential benefits of using serotonergic antidepressants to manage neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia.
Negative criticisms of the study include the limitations mentioned, particularly the lack of adjustment for the clinical status of patients and the heterogeneity in the assessment scales used across studies, which could affect the comparability and synthesis of results. Additionally, the effect sizes of the observed improvements were small, which raises questions about the clinical significance of these findings. Finally, the study only assessed the acute treatment effects of serotonergic antidepressants, and the long-term effects and adverse effects are still unknown.
Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of serotonergic antidepressants in managing neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia, but further research is needed to address the limitations and clarify the clinical significance of these findings.