TY - JOUR
T1 - A meta-analysis of D-cycloserine in exposure-based treatment
T2 - Moderators of treatment efficacy, response, and diagnostic remission
AU - McGuire, Joseph F.
AU - Wu, Monica S.
AU - Piacentini, John
AU - McCracken, James T.
AU - Storch, Eric A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright 2016 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.
PY - 2017/2
Y1 - 2017/2
N2 - Objective: This meta-analysis examined treatment efficacy, treatment response, and diagnostic remission effect sizes and moderators of d-cycloserine-augmented exposure treatment in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of individuals with anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Data Sources and Study Selection: The terms D-cycloserine AND randomized controlled trial were used to search the PubMed (1965-May 2015), PsycINFO, and Scopus databases for randomized placebo-controlled trials of d-cycloserine-augmented exposure therapy for anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD. Data Extraction: Clinical variables and effect sizes were extracted from 20 RCTs (957 participants). A random-effects model calculated the effect sizes for treatment efficacy, treatment response, and diagnostic remission using standardized rating scales. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were used to examine potential moderators. Results: A small, nonsignificant benefit of d-cycloserine augmentation compared to placebo augmentation was identified across treatment efficacy (g = 0.15), response (risk ratio [RR] = 1.08), and remission (RR = 1.109), with a moderately significant effect (P =.03) for anxiety disorders specifically (g = 0.33). At initial followup assessments, a small, nonsignificant effect size of d-cycloserine augmentation compared to placebo was found for treatment efficacy (g = 0.21), response (RR = 1.06), and remission (RR = 1.12). Specific treatment moderators (eg, comorbidity, medication status, gender, publication year) were found across conditions for both acute treatment and initial follow-up assessments. Conclusions: d-Cycloserine does not universally enhance treatment outcomes but demonstrates promise for anxiety disorders. Distinct treatment moderators may account for discrepant findings across RCTs and disorders. Future trials may be strengthened by accounting for identified moderators in their design, with ongoing research needed on the mechanisms of d-cycloserine to tailor treatment protocols and maximize its benefit.
AB - Objective: This meta-analysis examined treatment efficacy, treatment response, and diagnostic remission effect sizes and moderators of d-cycloserine-augmented exposure treatment in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of individuals with anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Data Sources and Study Selection: The terms D-cycloserine AND randomized controlled trial were used to search the PubMed (1965-May 2015), PsycINFO, and Scopus databases for randomized placebo-controlled trials of d-cycloserine-augmented exposure therapy for anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD. Data Extraction: Clinical variables and effect sizes were extracted from 20 RCTs (957 participants). A random-effects model calculated the effect sizes for treatment efficacy, treatment response, and diagnostic remission using standardized rating scales. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were used to examine potential moderators. Results: A small, nonsignificant benefit of d-cycloserine augmentation compared to placebo augmentation was identified across treatment efficacy (g = 0.15), response (risk ratio [RR] = 1.08), and remission (RR = 1.109), with a moderately significant effect (P =.03) for anxiety disorders specifically (g = 0.33). At initial followup assessments, a small, nonsignificant effect size of d-cycloserine augmentation compared to placebo was found for treatment efficacy (g = 0.21), response (RR = 1.06), and remission (RR = 1.12). Specific treatment moderators (eg, comorbidity, medication status, gender, publication year) were found across conditions for both acute treatment and initial follow-up assessments. Conclusions: d-Cycloserine does not universally enhance treatment outcomes but demonstrates promise for anxiety disorders. Distinct treatment moderators may account for discrepant findings across RCTs and disorders. Future trials may be strengthened by accounting for identified moderators in their design, with ongoing research needed on the mechanisms of d-cycloserine to tailor treatment protocols and maximize its benefit.
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U2 - 10.4088/JCP.15r10334
DO - 10.4088/JCP.15r10334
M3 - Article
C2 - 27314661
AN - SCOPUS:85014506203
SN - 0160-6689
VL - 78
SP - 196
EP - 206
JO - Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
JF - Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
IS - 2
ER -