Table 2.
Summary of studies that have estimated the role of nocebo effects in the incidence of withdrawal syndrome
| Study (year) | Method | Proportion withdrawal syndrome (%) | Number of patients | Criteria used for detection of withdrawal syndrome (comment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin [80] (2006)a | Placebo discontinuation | 12.2 | 123 | DESS increase ≥ 4 |
| Lader (2004) [81] | Placebo discontinuation | 1.9 | 116 | DESS increase ≥ 4 |
| Oehrberg et al. [78] (1995) | Placebo discontinuation | 13.5 | 52 | Any adverse event on discontinuation |
| Montgomery [79] (2005) | Antidepressant continuation (blinded) | 9.2 | 125 | DESS increase ≥ 4 |
| Zajecka et al. [45] (1998) | Antidepressant continuation (blinded) | 75 | 299 | Any adverse event on discontinuation |
| Rosenbaum et al. [41] (1998) | Antidepressant continuation (blinded) | 14 | 81 | DESS increase ≥ 4 (fluoxetine stopped for 5–8 days is equivalent to continuation given the long half-life) |