Re:Are Placebos Really Sugar Pills?
by droithomme on Wednesday January 30, 2013 @06:30PM
(#5142477)
Yes. If a placebo has active ingredients, you have no chance to replicate the study if you can't tell what those active ingredients are. And if you can't replicate a published study from the details given in the paper, then it's not a scientific study, it's bullshit. Yes, that's right, it's bullshit. And yes most studies fall into this category. Can't be replicated, shouldn't have been accepted for publication in the first place.
Once the placebo has been designed to 'match the drug in physical appearance, taste, texture, density, state (liquid/solid/gas), and anticipated side effects' it should still be described in the final paper.