RT Journal
A1 Leon AC
T1 Placebo protects subjects from nonresponse: A paradox of power
JF Archives of General Psychiatry
JO Archives of General Psychiatry
YR 2000
FD April 1
VO 57
IS 4
SP 329
OP 330
DO 10.1001/archpsyc.57.4.329
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.57.4.329
AB 
IN THIS issue, Khan et al1 examine extensive randomized clinical trial data from the Food and Drug Administration (Washington, DC), looking at differences between placebo and active medications in antidepressant trials. They found that relative to subjects receiving investigational or other active comparator antidepressants, those receiving placebo had smaller reductions in symptoms, but no differences in rates of suicide attempts or completions.1 Here I shift from adverse effects of placebo to describe a benefit of including placebo in a clinical trial.