Premium
Placebos in the era of open‐label trials: An update for clinicians
Author(s) -
Sagy Iftach,
Abres Jonathan,
Winnick Ariel,
Jotkowitz Alan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/eci.13038
Subject(s) - placebo , clinical trial , medicine , alternative medicine , deception , randomized controlled trial , psychiatry , clinical psychology , psychology , social psychology , pathology
Placebos have been used extensively by vast numbers of physicians, in a majority of clinical trials. Placebo effects involve behavioural, psychological and genetic factors and have been subject to ethical controversies stemming from the use of deception in treating patients. The patient‐physician encounter, endogenous pharmacological pathways, personality traits and genetic diversity have all been reported to be key players in placebo responses. In the last decade, a new methodological paradigm of placebo research has emerged, using open‐label placebos to investigate their effects which showed promising results for various common medical conditions. In this review, we will summarize the current body of evidence on placebos in clinical practice, with a view to open‐label placebo trials in particular. It is our view that future larger‐scale randomized blinded open placebo trials will benefit physicians and improve patient outcomes.