Placebo-Controlled Trials

Placebo-controlled trials are research studies designed to test the effectiveness of a treatment. In these trials, one group of participants receives the actual treatment, while another group receives a placebo—an inactive substance that looks like the treatment but has no therapeutic effect. This comparison helps researchers determine whether the treatment works better than just receiving a placebo. By using a placebo, scientists can isolate the true effects of the treatment from psychological or emotional responses, ensuring that any observed benefits are genuinely due to the treatment itself.