Memantine in patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease: meta-analyses using realistic definitions of response.

Background/aims: We aimed to develop realistic definitions of clinical worsening in advanced Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to use them in a post hoc responder analysis of memantine.

Methods: 2,340 patients with moderate to severe AD (Mini-Mental State Examination <20) were included from 9 multicentre, 16- to 28-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of memantine 20 mg/day versus placebo. Responder meta-analyses were performed, with definitions of response based on minimally important differences (MIDs) on cognitive, functional, and global assessment scales.

Sertraline versus paroxetine in the treatment of panic disorder: an acute, double-blind noninferiority comparison.

Objective: Several classes of medications have demonstrated efficacy in panic disorder, but direct comparison of 2 proven treatments is still uncommon. The purpose of this study was to compare sertraline and paroxetine in the acute treatment of panic disorder.

Method: Adult outpatients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (DSM-IV and ICD-10 criteria) were randomly assigned in double-blind fashion to 12 weeks of treatment with flexible doses of sertraline (titrated up to 50-150 mg/day; N = 112) or paroxetine (titrated up to 40-60 mg/day; N = 113).