title: Sertraline improves the somatic and psychological symptoms of the climacteric syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of sertraline versus placebo in the management of somatic and psychological complaints of the climacteric syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 44 women with moderate to severe complaints, defined as 16 or more points according to the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) considering only the psychological and somatic domains, were incorporated into the trial and randomized to receive either sertraline (50 mg/day) or placebo. Both groups were evaluated at baseline and after 45 and 90 days of treatment. A reduction of 50% or more in the score was considered as a successful response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three patients finished the trial (16 in the sertraline group and 17 in the placebo group), showing an odds ratio of 7.94 (95% confidence interval 1.3-57.3), p = 0.0038 for the sertraline group, in spite of the prominent effect of placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sertraline was more effective than placebo in the management of the somatic and psychological complaints of the climacteric syndrome.
authors.affiliation: University of Chile, School of Medicine, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aedo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavada
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Campodonico
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Porcile
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Irribarra
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010919:Placebos; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010919:Placebos; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline