METHODS

Design:

randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Allocation:

concealed.*

Blinding:

blinded (patients, healthcare providers, {data collectors, outcome assessors, data analysts, and data safety committee}†).*

Follow up period:

16 weeks.

Setting:

a clinic in Berlin, Germany.

Patients:

301 women who were 45–60 years of age (mean age 52 y) and had climacteric symptoms for ⩾3 months, a Menopause Rating Scale score ⩾0.4 on ⩾3 items, a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale Total score of 15–23 points, and a score ⩾2 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale item 1. Exclusion criteria included any treatment to alleviate climacteric symptoms in the previous 12 …