Razavi, D., Allilaire, J.F., Smith, M., Salimpour, A., Verra, M., Desclaux, B., . . . Blin, P. (1996). The effect of fluoxetine on anxiety and depression symptoms in cancer patients. Acta Psychiatria Scandinavica, 94, 205–210.

DOI Link

doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1996.tb09850.x

Intervention Characteristics/Basic Study Process

This trial randomized patients to two arms: one group received fluoxetine, and the other group received placebo for five weeks.

Sample Characteristics

Patients with cancer (N = 115) were randomized to two arms: fluoxetine treatment (n = 45) versus placebo (n = 46) for five weeks.

Study Design

A randomized, controlled, double-blinded trial design was used.

Measurement Instruments/Methods

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
Symptom Checklist–90–Revised (SCL90-R)
Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)
Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS)
Spitzer Quality of Life Index (SQOLI)

Results

Response rate (HADS) score < 8 after five weeks was not significantly higher in the fluoxetine group compared to the placebo group. There was significant decrease in mean scores on the SCL90-R in the fluoxetine group. There was no difference between groups on MADRS, HAS, or SQOLI.

Conclusions

Lower scores on subscales of the SQL90-R may reflect changes in anxiety levels between groups.

Limitations

The authors did not mention power of effect size.