N-of-1 Trial
A single-patient crossover trial in which an individual patient undergoes multiple treatment periods to determine their personal optimal treatment.
In Depth
N-of-1 trials are particularly relevant for cannabis medicine, where individual responses vary enormously. A patient might alternate between different cannabis preparations, doses, or routes of administration under controlled conditions to identify their optimal regimen. While not generalizable to populations, N-of-1 trials provide the highest level of evidence for individual treatment decisions. They are increasingly used in precision medicine and are well-suited to the highly variable pharmacology of cannabinoids.
Related Terms
More in Research Methods
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
The gold standard study design in clinical research. Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups to minimize bias and establish causation.
Systematic Review
A structured synthesis of all available evidence on a specific research question, using predefined criteria to identify, evaluate, and summarize studies.
Meta-Analysis
A statistical technique that combines quantitative data from multiple studies to produce a pooled estimate of effect size with greater statistical power than any individual study.
Placebo-Controlled
A study design in which the control group receives an inert substance (placebo) identical in appearance to the active treatment, to account for the placebo effect.
Observational Study
A study in which researchers observe participants without intervening. Includes cohort studies, case-control studies, and cross-sectional surveys.