Adjunctive antidepressants for the treatment of bipolar depression: An updated meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Abstract

This updated meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of adjunctive antidepressants in the treatment of bipolar depression. The antidepressant group exhibited a significant increase in response rate (RR: 1.12; 95 % CI 1.01–1.25; p = 0.04; I2 =55 %). The pooled results demonstrated a significant increase in response rate in the antidepressant group (RR: 1.12 95 % CI 1.01–1.25, p = 0.04; I2 =55 %). Depression score was significantly lower in the antidepressant group (SMD: −0.20 95 % CI −0.31 to −0.09, p < 0.001; I2 =14 %). Egger’s regression test and funnel plot inspection did not suggest publication bias. Adjunctive antidepressants appear to enhance response rates and reduce depressive scores in bipolar depression, though potential biases and study heterogeneity warrant future randomized trials on this topic.