Association between physician beliefs regarding assigned treatment and clinical response: re-analysis of data from the Hypericum Depression Trial Study Group.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We have previously shown an association between patient belief and treatment response in the Hypericum Depression Trial Study Group's 2002 study. We re-examined these data to determine whether clinical improvement was associated with physician belief about assigned therapy.

Methods

Three hundred and forty adults with major depression and baseline scores ≥20 on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HDRS-17) were randomized to Hypericum 900-1500mg/day, sertraline 50-100mg/day, or placebo for 8 weeks. At week 8, physicians guessed their patients' treatment. We analyzed 277 subjects with at least one post-baseline visit and physician guess data. We examined association between guess and improvement in HDRS-17 and whether treatment assignment moderated the effect of b

SUBMITTER: Chen JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4518843 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature