Posted by linkadge on September 8, 2010, at 21:23:58
In reply to Polypharmacy Common But Is More Better?, posted by Phillipa on September 8, 2010, at 13:28:20
"This was one of the most clinically relevant findings," Dr. Stassen said. "Maybe it has to do with drug interactions or side effects. We dont know. This tells us that monotherapy controls more episodes than polypharmacy, and there are other emerging studies showing this as well."
These studies are a bit flawed. This *doesn't* prove that the two methods of treatment are equivlant, however.For isntance, for the *majority* of patients without TRD, a single agent might be more effective. This makes sense because a single agent runs less risk of having burdonsome side effects.
But, when some patients fail a single agent, you really have to focus your study on the response of a subgroup of patients.
However, if a single agent fails, then what you need to do is compare adding a second agent, to adding a placebo. If adding a placebo is superior to adding a second active agent, then, and only then, have you demonstrated that polypharmacy is actually inferior.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:961695
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100908/msgs/961738.html