Placebo Effect in Treatment of Neurasthenia

Objective: To observe placebo effect in treatment of neura st henia Method: 212 psychiatric outpatients who met CCMD-2-R cri teria of neurasthenia were included After 1-6 weeks drug washout, all patients received one week placebo open treatment (leading period) Should patient stil l meet the diagnostic criteria, placebo and sertriline were applied by random do uble blind method 105 patients received placebo 3 dropped out in the first f our weeks, other 12 patients dropped out afterwards HAMA, HAMD and CGI (clinic al global impression) were used to assess the result at the end of study (12 wee ks) Result: After 12 weeks of treatment, all scores of above m easures decreased in placebo group According to the standard of 50% decrease i n HAMD-17items as effective, 34 3% patients in placebo group showed clinical ef fect A few patients appeared side effects such as insomnia, nausea, dryness of eyes and high blood pressure Conclusion: Placebo effect is ab out 30% in treatment of neurasthenia