Table 2

Difference in repeated behaviours and global improvement among participants with autism spectrum disorder taking antidepressants versus placebo — subgroup analysis

Characteristic	No. of trials	Hedges g (95% CI)^*	Z score	Cochran Q^†	p value^‡
Stereotyped behaviours
Drug intervention
SSRI	7	0.25 (0.03 to 0.48)	2.21^§	0.55	0.005
Clomipramine (TCA)	3	0.45 (−0.01 to 0.90)	1.93
Age group
Children and adolescents	8	0.21 (0.09 to 0.38)	2.64^§	1.94	0.001
Adults	3	0.58 (0.11 to 1.04)	2.29^§
Global improvement
Drug intervention
SSRI	5	1.04 (−0.04 to 2.12)	1.90^§	0.20	0.007
Clomipramine (TCA)	3	1.45 (0.02 to 2.89)	1.98^§
Age group
Children and adolescents	6	0.59 (−0.09 to 1.27)	1.69	1.49	0.040
Adults	3	2.41 (−0.44 to 5.25)	1.66

CI = confidence interval; SSRI = selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; TCA = tricyclic antidepressant.
↵* Random-effects model.
↵† For heterogeneity assessment based on random-effects analysis.
↵‡ Significance of the difference between effect sizes in the subgroups.
↵§ p < 0.05.