Modality-Independent Placebo Device for Electrostimulation

In randomized controlled trials (RCTs), placebo interventions are applied to create a reference for adequately testing the effectiveness of new drugs or therapy protocols. However, RCTs must usually be blinded to achieve proper out-comes. That means withholding information that may influence the experiment stakeholders until complete. It is still an open challenge to meet such a standard with non-pharmacological interventions like electrostimulation (ES). In that sense, ES placebo device interventions (EPDI), in which placebo devices mimic the actual use of an electrostimulator for a predetermined time, are a promising solution. In this paper, we propose a cheap, simple-to-implement, and easy-to-reproduce universal ES placebo device. Results showed the system can deal with different stimuli configurations, modulating the output as expected. Clinical researchers should use it as a standardized blinding intermediate for RCTs. By doing so, unified EPDI could reduce bias in information processing and comparison throughout different studies.