Clinical trials: Specific problems associated with the use of a placebo control group

Abstract

The topic of placebos in clinical research has been recently addressed in general medical journals, and is relevant to a clinical pharmacologists' readership as well. In this article we try to give an overview of the benefits as well as problems of this methodology. Although the use of placebos in drug development is frequently absolutely essential, important ethical and technical problems are generally involved. We conclude that the placebo-controlled trial although methodologically pure may sometimes cause too many difficulties in the clinical setting.