A randomized, double-blind crossover trial of sertraline in women with chronic pelvic pain

The efficacy of antidepressants as analgesics for a range of chronic pain problems is well documented. However, a controlled trial of an antidepressant for women with chronic pelvic pain has not yet been published. We randomized 23 women from a general gynecology clinic to either double-blind sertraline or placebo. Measures of psychological function, pain, and functional disability were taken at baseline and 6 weeks. After a 2-week washout, the groups were crossed-over and the same measures were done over the next 6 weeks. There were no significant improvements in pain or functional disability noted on sertraline compared to placebo. Studies involving larger samples of patients are needed to confirm these findings.