Liebowitz MR et al. Antidepressant specificity in atypical depression. Response to phenelzine among depressed patients with features of hysteroid dysphoria. The hysteroid and non-hysteroid groups were well controlled for confounding variables. Although confounding variables were not compared between drug-treatment groups, patients were randomized into these groups.
Primary measure is a global impression.
Especially considering the natural course of hysteroid dysphoria, this may not be a real, sustained difference. However, when this study was carried forth to 12-wks, the differences were no longer significant. Small number of patients in certain subsets. The effect is better established for atypical depression.