The importance of placebos in clinical trials: Understanding what it is and how it works

Placebos are often used in clinical trials to test new drugs or medical devices. These trials are a crucial step in the process of developing new treatments, because they help scientists determine whether or not a new drug or device is safe and effective.

The experimental vs control group

When a new drug or device is being tested, scientists will usually divide the study participants into two groups. The experimental group (also known as the treatment group) will receive the new treatment, while the other group – the control group – will receive a placebo.

What is a placebo?

A placebo is a treatment that looks the same as the real treatment, but doesn’t actually contain the active ingredient. For example, if the new treatment is a pill, the placebo might be a pill made of sugar. If the new treatment is a cream, the placebo might be a cream without the active ingredient.

The reason scientists use placebos is to compare the results of the treatment group with the results of the placebo group.

Why group participants?

By comparing the two groups, scientists can see whether the new treatment is actually working, or if the results are just due to chance. This is important because sometimes people’s symptoms can improve just because they think they’re taking a real treatment, even if it’s just a sugar pill. This is called the placebo effect.

The placebo effect

The placebo effect can make it seem like a treatment is working when it’s really not. By using a placebo, scientists can account for the placebo effect and make sure that the results of the study are accurate.

Another reason scientists use placebos is to protect the safety of the study participants. Before a new treatment can be made available to the public, scientists need to make sure that it’s safe.

By giving some participants a placebo, scientists can compare the results of the treatment group with the results of the placebo group, and see if the new treatment is causing any harmful side effects. If the new treatment is causing harmful side effects, scientists will know not to continue with the development of the treatment.

The ethics of placebos in clinical trials

It’s important to note that the use of placebo in clinical trials is not always straightforward and there are ethical considerations.

For example, in some cases, it may not be ethical to give a placebo to a patient with a serious condition if there is already an effective treatment available. Therefore, the use of placebos is carefully evaluated on a case by case basis.

Summary (TLDR;)

Placebos are fake treatments that are used in clinical trials to help scientists determine if a new treatment is effective and safe. They are compared with the real treatment to account for the placebo effect, which can make it seem like a treatment is working when it’s not. Placebos also protect the safety of the study participants by allowing scientists to compare the results of the treatment group with the results of the placebo group and see if the new treatment is causing any harmful side effects. They are an essential tool in medical research, but their use is carefully evaluated on a case by case basis with ethical considerations.