No Subgroup of Patients for Whom Antidepressants Are Effective

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A reanalysis of STAR*D finds no support for the theorized subgroup of patients who do well on antidepressants. However, there appeared to be a small subgroup of patients that derived a large benefit. Thus, according to Stone, researchers should seek a way to identify the small group of patients who actually do well on the drugs. The researchers were unable to identify any group of patients who did surprisingly well on antidepressants. “Therefore, our results do not support the notion that a subgroup of patients with a large response exists.