Background: This study was designed to compare placebo responses in men and
women.
Methods: Data for 501 women and 375 men with major depressive disorder trea
ted with placebo from seven investigational randomized double-blind trials
comparing fluoxetine with placebo were analyzed. Changes in major depressiv
e disorder symptoms with placebo administration were measured as changes in
total Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores and adverse (nocebo) effects
were measured by comparing treatment-emergent signs and symptoms.
Results: Both women and men with major depressive disorder showed significa
nt symptomatic improvement following placebo administration, similar in mag
nitude and time course of response. Women on placebo reported slightly more
nocebo effects than men,
Conclusions: The finding that women and men with major depressive disorder
demonstrated a similar therapeutic outcome after placebo administration sug
gests that gender is not a predictor of placebo response. (C) 2001 Society
of Biological Psychiatry.