Blinding problems impair integrity of psychedelics trials: Study
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly April 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/adaw.34884 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that standard placebos are inadequate in psychedelic trials because participants can detect the psychedelic's effects, and proposes that an active placebo with similar properties is needed. |
Abstract
When conducting randomized controlled trials, the study drug is pitted against a placebo. The problem with psychedelics trials is that subjects always know when they have been given a psychedelic. The only “placebo” for a psychedelic is another drug with similar properties, because psychedelics have such obvious effects.