Randomised trial, 2000
What predicts whether sertraline will help someone with severe PMS?
Your symptom severity during the non-period part of your cycle predicts how well sertraline will work, but depression levels and demographic factors do not. Over 60% of people respond well to sertraline in controlled studies.
What they did
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 62 people with severe PMS or PMDD. All completed 3 screening cycles, including a single-blind placebo washout, before receiving 3 cycles of double-blind treatment with sertraline or placebo. Researchers examined demographic factors, medical history, and symptom ratings to predict who would respond to sertraline.
What they found
Baseline postmenstrual symptom ratings independently predicted PMS symptoms after sertraline treatment. Depression ratings, medical history variables, and demographic variables were not significantly predictive of response to sertraline.
What it means for you
If you have worse symptoms during your non-period weeks, it may help doctors predict how you will respond to sertraline. The study shows that characteristics other than depression influence treatment response. It does not explain why this relationship exists.
62
participants
3
screening cycles
>60%
responded well to sertraline
About the study
- Original title
- Predictors of response to sertraline treatment of severe premenstrual syndromes
- Authors
- Freeman EW, Sondheimer SJ, Polansky M et al.
- Journal
- The Journal of clinical psychiatry
- Year
- 2000
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Sertraline antidepressant versus placebo for 3 cycles
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v61n0807
Topics
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