Author's Reply to Commentary on No effect of 'Hypericum perforatum' (St John's wort) and 'Vitex agnus-castus' (chaste tree) combination on menopausal symptoms

Title
Author's Reply to Commentary on No effect of 'Hypericum perforatum' (St John's wort) and 'Vitex agnus-castus' (chaste tree) combination on menopausal symptoms
Publication Date
2009
Author(s)
van Die, MD
Berger, HG
Bone, Kerry
Cohen, M M
Teede, H J
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Place of publication
United Kingdom
DOI
10.1111/j.2042-7166.2009.tb01863.x
UNE publication id
une:12158
Abstract
As pointed out in the commentary, there are considerable demands on resources in conducting an RCT of this nature. A four-arm trial investigating the effects of 'V. agnus-castus' and 'H. perforatum' as sole agents would have required a major increase in sample size to ensure statistical power. This presented feasibility constraints with funding and recruitment. Therefore, the combination was tested, with a view to examining individual herbs if a positive result was obtained. Further points of interest have been raised in the commentary. The observation of effect modification of lack of previous herb use cannot be readily explained. However, it is unlikely to reflect negative bias among previous users, as this would not support their voluntary enrolment in such a study. Substantial placebo effects are common in studies of menopausal symptoms, as pointed out. This can necessitate the allocation of increased resources and lead to type II errors (inappropriate rejection of potentially valuable treatment). Increasing our understanding of the placebo response is therefore of great importance. Predictors of the placebo response were examined in this study and will be the subject of future analyses and publications. Participants for the study were sourced from the general community, recruited predominantly though advertisements in the media.
Link
Citation
Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 14(1), p. 25-26
ISSN
2042-7166
1465-3753
Start page
25
End page
26

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