Is It Always Unethical to Use a Placebo in a Clinical Trial?
نویسندگان
چکیده
BACKGROUND TO THE DEBATE Placebos are used in trials to conceal whether a treatment is being given or not and hence to control for the psychosomatic effects of offering treatment. Placebo-controlled trials are controversial. Critics of such trials argue that if a proven effective therapy exists, a placebo should not be used. But proponents argue that placebo trials are still crucial to prove the efficacy and safety of many treatments.
منابع مشابه
Treatment-Responsiveness of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia: A double-blind placebo-control clinical trial
Background: The negative symptoms of schizophrenia remain a major clinical challenge. Nortriptyline is a serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor and belongs to secondary amine tricycles. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of nortriptyline on the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Methods: This study is a six-week randomized placebo-control trial of nortriptyline or placebo a...
متن کاملThe Effect of Melatonin on Pediatric Drug-Resistant Epilepsy; a Randomized Double Blind Clinical Trial
BackgroundAbout 15 to 40% of children with seizures are refractory to standard anti-epileptic drugs and for such patients, other treatments such as surgery and the ketogenic diet can reduce seizure frequency. Melatonin is a natural pineal gland hormone. The use of melatonin for controlling pediatric seizures is still controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of melatonin on seizure...
متن کاملThe efficacy of oral Erythromycin in the treatment of patients with Pityriasis Rosea: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Background: Pityriasis rosea is an acute, inflammatory and self-limited disease, which is characterized by a primary scaly plaque (Herald patch) followed by a generalized, symmetrical papulosqumous eruption (Mostly on trunk and proximal extremities). Objective: To determine the efficacy of erythromycin in the treatment of patients with pityriasis rosea. Patients and Methods: In this doubl...
متن کاملAssessment of an anti-cellulite cream: A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, right-left comparison, clinical trial
Background: Cellulite is a common disease whose exact mechanism is unknown. This study was aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of an anti-cellulite preparation compared with placebo in a randomized double-blind, right-left comparison clinical trial.Methods: Twelve healthy women aged 22 to 58 years with mild to moderate cellulite on their thighs and buttocks participated in this trial. The a...
متن کاملEvaluation of the Efficacy of Topical Ethyl Vanillate in Enhancing the Effect of Narrow Band Ultraviolet B against Vitiligo: A Double Blind Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Background: Vitiligo is an acquired disease of skin that presents with depigmented patches due to lack of melanocytes in the epidermis. Accumulation of toxic free radicals like hydrogen peroxide in the epidermis may be responsible for melanocytes death. Since ethyl vanillate (vanillic acid ethyl ester) is a strong hydrogen peroxide scavenger, it may be effective against vitiligo. This study was...
متن کاملذخیره در منابع من
با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید
عنوان ژورنال:
- PLoS Medicine
دوره 2 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2005