Why do placebos work? Scientists identify key brain pathway

Re:Why do placebos work? Scientists identify key brain pathway by allturtles on Thursday October 28, 2021 @09:27AM (#29025853)

> Yes, that's the reason RCTs are contrasted against placebo not no treatment.

I don't think so. Placebo is used to blind participants to which study arm they are in. The placebo effect was then discovered after the fact.

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Re:Why do placebos work? Scientists identify key brain pathway by Pyramus on Thursday October 28, 2021 @11:20AM (#29027140)

You are not wrong - placebos are a practical way to blind a study.

The best way to blind, however, is no treatment, but no treatment only gives you the efficacy of the treatment, and not what you actually want to know, the efficacy of the 'active ingredient'.

See e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo-controlled_study#Natur...

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