New medications are the need of the hour for people with psychiatric  disorders. Placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are still  the most common method to evaluate new medications. However, the use  of a placebo in medicine, particularly in mental health disorders, remains a  controversial topic. The regulatory authorities including DCGI (Drug Controller  General of India) have raised concerns regarding the ethical and safety  issues of placebo-controlled trials in acute psychiatry indications. To address  this concern, IQVIA conducted an advisory board involving four leading  Psychiatrists from across the country on 08 July 2023 to discuss the above and strategize to reduce the risk of placebo-controlled trials in acute  psychiatric indications.