Subgroup Analyses
| Variable | Posttreatment Scores | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| SMD (95% CI) | I2, % | No. of Comparisons | |
| Diagnostic subgroups | |||
| Major depression | −0.38 (−0.50 to −0.25) | 5 | 10 |
| Mixed/unclear | −0.31 (−0.41 to −0.21) | 33 | 14 |
| Minor depression and/or dysthymia | −0.09 (−0.26 to 0.07) | 18 | 6 |
| Test for subgroup differences, P value = .03 | |||
| Delivery mode | |||
| Face-to-face | −0.23 (−0.33 to −0.14) | 17 | 18 |
| Remote therapist-led | −0.43 (−0.62 to −0.25) | 20 | 5 |
| Guided self-help and no/minimal contact | −0.33 (−0.48 to −0.17) | 53 | 8 |
| Test for subgroup differences, P value = .14 | |||
| Treatment concept | |||
| CBT (all delivery modes) | −0.34 (−0.44 to −0.25) | 29 | 18 |
| PST (all delivery modes) | −0.19 (−0.45 to 0.07) | 51 | 6 |
| Interpersonal psychotherapy (face-to-face) | −0.24 (−0.47 to −0.02) | 0 | 2 |
| Counseling intervention (face-to-face) | −0.27 (−0.50 to −0.05) | 39 | 4 |
| Psychoeducation (face-to-face) | −0.29 (−0.55 to −0.03) | na | 1 |
| Test for subgroup differences, P value = .77 | |||
| Recruitment | |||
| Referral | −0.31 (−0.41 to −0.22) | 20 | 14 |
| Screening | −0.28 (−0.40 to −0.16) | 44 | 17 |
| Test for subgroup differences, P value = .68 | |||
| Age-group | |||
| Adults | −0.31 (−0.41 to −0.23) | 39 | 26 |
| Only elderly | −0.17 (−0.32 to −0.02) | 0 | 5 |
| Test for subgroup differences, P value = .08 | |||
| Number of treatment sessions | |||
| >6 | −0.33 (−0.48 to −0.17) | 53 | 8 |
| 6 to 9 | −0.25 (−0.38 to −0.11) | 35 | 13 |
| ≥10 | −0.32 (−0.44 to −0.21) | 12 | 10 |
| Test for subgroup differences, P value = .65 | |||
| Risk of bias | |||
| Low | −0.27 (−0.38 to −0.15) | 24 | 11 |
| Unclear | −0.24 (−0.39 to −0.09) | 48 | 10 |
| High | −0.40 (−0.54 to −0.26 | 21 | 10 |
| Test for subgroup difference, P value = .24 | |||
| Sample size | |||
| Up to median (≤152 patients) | −0.33 (−0.47 to −0.19) | 22 | 16 |
| Above median | −0.28 (−0.37 to −0.19) | 46 | 15 |
| Test for subgroup differences, P value = .58 | |||
CBT = cognitive behavioral therapy; na = not applicable; PST = problem-solving therapy; SMD = standardized mean difference.