Reexamining Quality Assessment and Effect Size Reporting Among Studies Showing Major Changes in Depressive Symptoms

To the Editor In a systematic review and meta-analysis of 53 longitudinal cohort studies, Madigan and colleagues concluded that depressive symptoms increased notably among children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic (standardized mean change [SMC]  = 0.26). Seven studies included in the meta-analysis reported major changes in depressive symptoms (≥0.6 SDs, considered indicative of moderate to large changes). These studies are at odds with the broader literature, and their inclusion may have led to an exaggerated estimate of change in de pressive symptoms. For this reason, I reexamined these studies and found significant issues in either the quality assessment or effect size reporting in 6 of the 7 studies.
Source: JAMA Pediatrics - Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research