In studies involving the effects of drugs, placebo control groups are often used. These control groups receive a placebo, which can be inactive tablets or an injection with no medication in it. The important element of the placebo is for the participants to go through the ritual of receiving a treatment, without actually receiving it. This allows researchers to compare any placebo effects with actual effects in the treatment group to determine if the treatment is truly effective or if patient expectations are merely at play.
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