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Placebo Response in Binge Eating Disorder: A Pooled Analysis of 10 Clinical Trials from One Research Group
Author(s) -
Blom Thomas J.,
Mingione Carolyn J.,
Guerdjikova Anna I.,
Keck Paul E.,
Welge Jeffrey A.,
McElroy Susan L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.2277
Subject(s) - placebo , binge eating , binge eating disorder , psychiatry , eating disorders , medicine , placebo response , clinical trial , clinical endpoint , psychology , bulimia nervosa , alternative medicine , pathology
Objective The aim of this study was to gain further understanding of placebo response in binge eating disorder. Method We pooled participant‐level data from 10 double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, randomized trials of medications for binge eating disorder. The primary outcomes were response (75% reduction in binge eating episodes), cessation of binge eating episodes, change in mean weekly binge eating episodes and binge eating episodes per week. Results Of 234 participants receiving placebo, 89 (38%) were responders and 59 (26%) attained cessation. Placebo‐treated participants significantly reduced their binge eating. The mean (SD) binge eating episodes per week at baseline was 5.2 (3.2) and at endpoint was 2.2 (2.6). Lower baseline binge eating episode frequency and longer study participation were significantly associated with response and cessation. Discussion Less severe eating pathology at baseline was associated with higher placebo response and cessation rates. Future clinical trials may want to stipulate that participants exceed a threshold of illness severity, which may lead to better placebo and drug separation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.