Cited by 456Treatment of Major DepressionPain Management and Placebo EffectAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Severity of Depression and Response to Antidepressants and Placebo: An Analysis of the Food and Drug Administration Database

Khan, Arif, Leventhal, Robyn M., Khan, Shirin R., Brown, Walter A.·2002·Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology

Abstract

Some studies suggest that more severely ill patients with depression respond well to antidepressants and poorly to placebo, whereas those who are mildly ill respond equally well to antidepressants and placebo. This notion has implications for the design of clinical trials. To further assess and substantiate these putative predictors of antidepressant and placebo response, we assessed the Food and Drug Administration database of 45 phase II and III antidepressant clinical trials. The frequency of statistically significant differences between antidepressants and placebo was higher in the trials that included patients with more severe depression. In the antidepressant-treated groups, the magnitude of symptom reduction was significantly related to mean initial Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) score; the higher the mean initial HAM-D score, the larger the change. With placebo treatment, however, the higher the mean initial HAM-D score, the smaller the change. Early discontinuation was more frequent among patients whose mean initial HAM-D scores were higher. These data may help inform the design of future antidepressant clinical trials.

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Crossref · 10.1097/00004714-200202000-00007

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Authors
Khan, A., Leventhal, R. M., Khan, S. R., & Brown, W. A.
Affiliations
  • Northwest Clinical Research Center (US)
  • Tufts University (US)
Corresponding author
  • Khan, Arif
  • Leventhal, Robyn M.
  • Khan, Shirin R.
Venue
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
Published
2002-02
Volume
22
Issue
1
Pages
40-45
ISSN
0271-0749 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2094608167
Cited by
456
References
21
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 41 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 27
FWCI
10.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Pain Management and Placebo Effect
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
depression severity, antidepressant response, placebo response, antidepressant clinical trials, trial design, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, treatment discontinuation, symptom relief
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Antidepressive Agents, Depressive Disorder, Double-Blind Method, Humans, Personality Inventory, United States, United States Food and Drug Administration, Placebo Effect, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Databases, Factual, Treatment Outcome, Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic, Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic

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