Randomized controlled trial in primary care

摘要: OBJECTIVE To compare the change in severity of depressive symptoms and occurrence side effects primary care patients treated with St John’s wort (SJW) sertraline. DESIGN Double-blind, randomized 12-week trial. SETTING Community-based offices 12 family physicians practising greater Montreal, Que. PARTICIPANTS Eighty-seven men women major depression an initial score ≥16 on Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (Ham-D). INTERVENTIONS Patients were to treatment either sertraline (50 100 mg/d) or SJW (900 1800 a double-blind fashion. Assessment was done at entry 2, 4, 8, weeks using Ham-D, Beck Inventory (BDI), questionnaire asking about compliance effects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Changes from baseline Ham-D BDI scores self-reported RESULTS There no important differences changes mean (using intentionto-treat analysis), without adjustment demographic characteristics, between two groups weeks. Significantly more reported group than 2 4 weeks’ follow up. CONCLUSION The benign make it good first choice this patient population.