Placebo response in the treatment of women's sexual dysfunctions: a review and commentary.
We reviewed the literature to determine the nature and magnitude of therapeutic response associated with placebo treatment in clinical trials for women's sexual dysfunction. We abstracted data from 16 articles to record the effect size associated with placebo treatment. In most of these studies, placebo recipients reported statistically significant improvements on one or more major endpoints relative to baseline. Although placebo responses varied across study populations and methodologies, within-group effect sizes were predominantly in the moderate range. Our findings suggest that post-menopausal women and women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder may be more likely to respond to placebo treatment.
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712, USA.
Andrea
A
Bradford
Cindy M
CM
Meston
D000728:Androgens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010919:Placebos / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012107:Research Design; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016387:Women's Health
D000728:Androgens; D010919:Placebos