A Systematic Review of Study Design and Placebo Controls in Psychedelic Research.
Psychedelic Med (New Rochelle) March 12, 2024 Alexander Wen, Nikhita Singhal, Brett D.M. Jones et al. 36 citations
Blinding is especially difficult in randomized controlled trials of psychedelics because these drugs produce noticeable changes in consciousness. This systematic review of 50 papers from 48 clinical trials published between 1963 and January 2023 found that most studies were double-blinded, used within-subjects designs, and employed inert placebos. The majority did not report on whether blinding procedures were successful, and in those that did, blinding failed. To reduce unblinding and expectancy effects, the authors recommend using active placebos and dose-response or active comparator designs.