Placebo response of non-pharmacological and pharmacological trials in major depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although meta-analyses have shown that placebo responses are large in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) trials; the placebo response of devices such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has not been systematically assessed. We proposed to assess placebo responses in two categories of MDD trials: pharmacological (antidepressant drugs) and non-pharmacological (device- rTMS) trials.

Methodology/principal findings

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature from April 2002 to April 2008, searching MEDLINE, Cochrane, Scielo and CRISP electronic databases and reference lists from retrieved studies and conference abstracts. We used the keywords placebo and depression and escitalopram for pharmacological studies; and transcranial m

SUBMITTER: Brunoni AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2653635 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature