A METAANALYSIS OF FLUOXETINE OUTCOME IN THE TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION

A meta-analysis was conducted on all the double-blind, placebo-control led efficacy trials of the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac). This dr ug has become the antidepressant most frequently prescribed by psychia trists and has been hailed by the media as a ''wonder drug.'' Results produced a relatively modest overall effect size that was no greater t han effect sizes obtained by previous meta-analyses of tricyclic antid epressants. This study also examined the possibility that bias may hav e contaminated study outcome ratings. Because past studies suggest tha t the greater frequency of side effects in active drug groups unblinds study participants, we examined the relationship between study effect sizes and the percentage of patients reporting side effects. As predi cted, both clinician and patient outcome ratings correlated significan tly with the percentage of patients experiencing side effects. Questio ns are raised about the role of side effects in mediating drug outcome results.