Patients' treatment expectancies in clinical trials of antidepressants versus psychotherapy for depression: a study using hypothetical vignettes.
Previous research on patients' expectancies for improvement in clinical trials typically has been conducted after patients have already agreed to participate in a study. Depressed patients (n = 55) read 3 vignettes describing hypothetical clinical trials of antidepressant vs pill placebo, antidepressant vs antidepressant, and psychotherapy vs psychotherapy. Patients reported greater overall acceptability for psychotherapy over antidepressants. Patients had significantly greater expectancies for symptom reduction in either active comparator (medication or psychotherapy) compared with the placebo-controlled design. They also reported greater anticipated improvement and willingness to participate in the psychotherapy trial compared with either medication trial design. Patients' differential expectancies based on study design could lead to different patient populations being selected for these studies and influence clinical improvement.
Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. Brandon_Gaudiano@brown.edu
Brandon A
BA
Gaudiano
Jessica A
JA
Hughes
Ivan W
IW
Miller
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D057240:Patient Preference; D018579:Patient Selection; D015990:Placebo Effect; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods
D000928:Antidepressive Agents