How sound is the double-blind design for evaluating psychotropic drugs?
Sufficient data have accumulated to raise serious doubts about the integrity of the double-blind design that is presumed to shield psychotropic drug trials from bias and expectations. A major deficit in most drug trials has been the use of inert rather than active placebos. The deficiencies of the double-blind paradigm call for a questioning stance with respect to previous studies of psychotropic drug efficacy. Various possible ways of strengthening the double-blind paradigm are reviewed.
Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Health Science Center, Syracuse 13210.
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Fisher
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Greenberg
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D010919:Placebos; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010919:Placebos; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs