Clinical trials are not just physical trials, but they are psychological trials too. The doctors administer the medicines and other treatment options to the participants to analyze their safety and effectiveness. However the researchers do not only administer the actual drugs, but they can administer the placebos.
The placebos are nothing but trial medicines or fake medicines, which are administered to identify if the psychological triggers can change the outcomes. To maintain the integrity of the trials and maintain accurate results, the placeboes are administered. But why are the placebos used in clinical trials? Why do researchers have to use Placebo treatment instead of actual treatment?
Importance of Placebos in Clinical Trials
#1 – Identifying Placebo Effect
The placebo effect is an important phenomenon in clinical trials. When participants believe they are receiving treatment, they may report improvements in symptoms even if they are taking a placebo. This response is psychological but can have real effects on the symptoms or the progression of the disease. This is quite an important effect as it allows researchers to know if the disease has originated from psychological conditions or physical conditions.
#2 – Ensuring Accurate Results
The clinical trials are done in single-blinded or double-blinded ways. In the single-blinded way, the researchers have an idea about the placebo and actual medicines that are being administered to the patients but the patients have no idea about the same. In a double-blinded way, both the researchers and participants have no idea about the placeboes and actual drugs. This way eliminates the external interference in the trials and ensures accurate results.
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#3 – Ethical Considerations
Even though there are numerous questions raised around the placebo treatment, ethically it’s considered appropriate. The researchers have no control over the administration of placebo treatment and this ensures the ethical administration of the doses. Also, it allows the authorities to maintain the randomization in clinical trials, which in the end ensures accurate results all the time.
Final Words
There is a lot of misinformation about the clinical trials and the placebo treatments floating in the world. This is preventing the people from participating in the clinical trials. Fortunately, we tried our best to explain the use of placebos in clinical trials. If you have some more questions, please read our blog at clinicaltrialvanguard.com.
