[Drug therapy of non-ulcer dyspepsia]

The results of placebo-controlled clinical trials of the treatment of non-ulcer dyspepsia with antacids, H2-receptor blockers, pirenzepine, sucralfate and colloidal bismuth subcitrate are reviewed. The methodological difficulties involved in connection with clinical trials of treatment of a vaguely defined condition such as non-ulcer dyspepsia are discussed with particular attention to the criteria for inclusion, assessment of effect and selection bias. None of the pharmacological agents have proved convincingly better than a placebo but sub-groups of the condition probably exist where symptomatic effects may be anticipated.