Dear Colleagues,

I am currently supervising a pilot RCT to examine the effectiveness and feasibility of a new neuroplastic treatment for stuttering/stammering with my postgraduate (Ms Hilary Mc Donagh).

We have run into a difficulty regarding deciding what is a suitable control for this study.

Our understanding is that placebos are potentially not recommended in a behavioural intervention because teaching a no benefit behaviour that has a no benefit consequence is possibly unethical. One suggestion would be to have a no treatment 'waiting list' period before the participants begin their 6-8 week trial, however, I am worried that participants then benefit from the Hawthorne Effect before the start of the trial which may make it more difficult to prove the efficacy of the new innovative intervention.

I suppose the question is what controls have people ever used in the past for RCT's involving treatments for stammering/stuttering.

We will welcome all advice.

Thanks Ken