Retention rates in placebo- and nonplacebo-controlled clinical trials of schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the inclusion of a placebo control in clinical trials of schizophrenia affects retention rates in the first 35 days of inclusion relative to trials that did not have a placebo control.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study of 8 double-blind clinical trials, 5 of which had a placebo control while 3 did not. Using survival analysis, retention rates between the placebo-controlled trials (PCTs) and the nonplacebo-controlled trials (NPCTs) were compared. Screening and percentage improvement on Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores were compared.


RESULTS
Significantly more patients were retained in the 35-day period for NPCTs. Also, the PCT group had significantly more psychopathology at screening than did the NPCT group.


CONCLUSIONS
Differences in retention rates between PCTs and NPCTs cannot be uniquely attributed to placebo itself.
Labelle
A
A
University of Ottawa, Ontario. alabelle@rohcg.on.ca
Boulay
L J
LJ
Lapierre
Y D
YD
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017330:Remoxipride / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D017330:Remoxipride; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D010890:Pirenzepine; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine