Fig. 3

Percentage of adverse events (AEs) that would be reported using different selection criteria. We applied 45 different selection criteria to AEs in each of the eight trials for which we identified a clinical study report (CSR). To illustrate the potential variation in reported non-systematic AEs for each trial, we calculated the percentage of AEs that would be reported using each selection criterion, and we colored the figure using a heat map, with green representing the most AEs and red representing the fewest AEs. Squares outlined in black represent the selection criteria used in at least one source about that trial (e.g., a source describing Serpell 2002 reported AEs that occurred in ≥ 5% of participants in the gabapentin trial). Some trials did not have any sources that described the selection criteria (e.g., 945–224). A = no difference in frequency threshold; B = higher frequency in gabapentin/quetiapine than in placebo; C = frequency in gabapentin/quetiapine at least twice as high as placebo. ¹Gabapentin trial; ²Quetiapine trial