Treatment of depression: newer pharmacotherapies

CRD COMMENTARY: This was a very long and detailed review. It addressed an appropriate, but wide ranging question using well-defined inclusion criteria. The authors based their search strategy on the Cochrane Collaboration specialised registry, with no language restrictions, and therefore, was adequately comprehensive. Even so, some evidence of publication bias was detected, indicating that the pooled findings in support of the efficacy of newer antidepressants in major depression and the efficacy of hypericum might be overstated. Formal validity assessment of the studies included in the review was performed, and the effect that trial quality might have had on the findings is discussed. Details of the trials included in the review are given. The statistical meta-analyses appear appropriate and the results of heterogeneity tests are reported. The authors' findings and conclusions appear to be justified. This review was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which specified certain aspects of the study, such as a technical advisory panel and the report format.