Association Between Placebo-Activated Neural Systems and Antidepressant Responses: Neurochemistry of Placebo Effects in Major Depression.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

High placebo responses have been observed across a wide range of pathologies, severely impacting drug development.

Objective

To examine neurochemical mechanisms underlying the formation of placebo effects in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Design, setting, and participants

In this study involving 2 placebo lead-in phases followed by an open antidepressant administration, we performed a single-blinded 2-week crossover randomized clinical trial of 2 identical oral placebos (described as having either active or inactive fast-acting antidepressant-like effects) followed by a 10-week open-label treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or, in some cases, another agent as clinically indicated. The volunteers (35 medication-free patien

SUBMITTER: Pecina M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4758856 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature