Questioning the methodologic superiority of 'placebo' over 'active' controlled trials.

摘要: A resilient issue in research ethics is whether and when a placebo-controlled trial (PCT) justified if it deprives subjects of recognized treatment. The clinicians' moral duty to provide the best available care seems require use 'active' controlled trials (ACTs) that an established treatment as control whenever such therapy available. In another regard, ACTs are supposedly methodologically inferior PCTs. Hence, clinical researcher methods will favor this target article, I analyze three reasons for believing PCTs namely: 1) lack 'assay sensitivity'; 2) do not measure absolute effect size; 3) more participants; contend none acceptable. Consequently tension between dissolves: clinician avoid unopposed by methodological considerations. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.