Figure 2

Forest plot of RR with CI for all studies and overall. The overall effect size in the analysis is RR=1.56 with 95%-CI: 1.07- 2.28 (p=0.021). This means that the effect of antidepressants in this population is significant better than the placebo effect. Four studies found a positive effect of the antidepressants on depressed cancer patients. In two studies the antidepressant was not better than the placebo. The 95%-CIs of these two studies were wider than the ones of the other four studies, which is indicative of low precision. RR: relative risk; CI: confidence intervals.