STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- Randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are considered to be the “gold standard” in terms of epidemiologic studies
- Placebos are supposed to be inert but, typically, the contents of the placebo in a study are not disclosed
- This leaves much room for “interpretation” when it comes to choosing placebos for studies and “sometimes a placebo is not a placebo”
- Excipients, which are substances like coloring agents, preservatives and fillers that aid in drug delivery, are examples of substances in placebos that could have an active or harmful effect
- When the contents of a placebo are not disclosed as a part of the study design, the study lacks transparency and its results may be skewed, inaccurate or misleading