--- title: How many women with severe PMS improve from taking a placebo pill? description: About 20% show significant lasting improvement (at least 50% reduction in symptoms), 42% partially improve, and 39% don't improve. If you improve for at least url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/characteristics-of-placebo-responses-in-medical-treatment-of-premenstrual-1999/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How many women with severe PMS improve from taking a placebo pill? Randomised trial, 1999 # How many women with severe PMS improve from taking a placebo pill? About 20% show significant lasting improvement (at least 50% reduction in symptoms), 42% partially improve, and 39% don't improve. If you improve for at least 2 consecutive months, you are likely to keep improving. Moderate study design 101 women with severe PMS ## What they did Pooled analysis of 101 women from two randomized controlled trials who met criteria for severe PMS. All remained eligible after 1 month of single-blind placebo lead-in treatment. They then received 3 months of double-blind placebo treatment. ## What they found 20% of placebo-treated subjects showed sustained improvement (at least 50% decrease in symptom score), with 18 of these improving for at least 3 of the 4 months of placebo treatment. Another 42% partially improved. 39% were clearly unimproved throughout the study period. ## What it means for you Placebo helps some people significantly, but only about 1 in 5. The results show that non-drug factors and patient expectations matter in treatment. However, these women had already shown some placebo response during the lead-in phase, so results may not apply to all women with PMS. 101 women studied 20% sustained improvement 50% symptom reduction threshold ## About the study Original title Characteristics of placebo responses in medical treatment of premenstrual syndrome Authors Freeman EW, Rickels K Journal The American journal of psychiatry Year 1999 Study design Randomised trial Participants 101 What was tested Placebo pills for 3 months in double-blind format Read the paper [doi.org/10.1176/ajp.156.9.1403](https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.156.9.1403) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiolytics and other psychotropics](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-anxiolytics/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Review, 2015 What treatments work best for PMDD and PMS? Systematic review, 2007 What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome? Randomised trial, 2004 What medications work for PMDD when taken only during the second half of the menstrual cycle? Review, 2003 How do menstrual cycle hormones affect the brain and cause mood disorders like PMDD? Review, 2002 What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD? Study, 1997 What medications work best for treating PMS? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗