title: Principal aspects of the use of placebos.
abstract: After a brief historical review the author discusses the use of placebo in treatment and in the scientific evaluation of the efficacy of psychotropic drugs in double-blind studies. He also mentions its place in the elucidation of the personality structure and psychodynamics of so-called placebo reactors, as well as its importance in recent years for basic medical research.
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D010919:Placebos / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos