A psychiatrist is testing a drug that treats depression. He has given the drug to all his patients, and all of them have experienced a decrease in depressive symptoms. Although this is interesting, his experience is limited because he does not have:
A)a reliable way to` measure depressive symptoms.
B)a comparison group that did not receive the drug.
C)a hypothesis.
D)psychotherapy to supplement the drug.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Without a comparison group that did not receive the drug, it is impossible to know whether the decrease in depressive symptoms is due to the drug or some other factor, such as a placebo effect. Therefore, a comparison group is necessary to evaluate the efficacy of the drug. A reliable way to measure depressive symptoms (A), a hypothesis (C), and psychotherapy (D) are all important in the study of depression, but they are not directly related to the specific limitation mentioned in the question.

A Psychiatrist Is Testing a Drug That Treats Depression