Side effects and the "blindability" of clinical drug trials.
A novel, simple approach to retrospective assessment of "blindability" was applied to data on outpatients in a controlled, double-blind clinical comparison of a putative antidepressant, etoperidone, and placebo. A "blind" evaluator proved capable of discriminating between the active drug and placebo on the basis of reported side effects alone, raising questions about the true blindness of the study.
White
K
K
Department of Psychiatry, Providence VA Medical Center, RI 02908.
Kando
J
J
Park
T
T
Waternaux
C
C
Brown
W A
WA
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015982:Bias; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D010919:Placebos; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014196:Trazodone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010919:Placebos; C013528:etoperidone; D014196:Trazodone