Placebos Work -- Even If You Know It's a Placebo

[rowyn]

Fromthe Wall Street Journal:

Ted Kaptchuk, director of Harvard's Program in Placebo Studies and the Therapeutic Encounter, and colleagues demonstrated that deception isn't necessary for the placebo effect to work. Eighty patients with irritable bowel syndrome, a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, were assigned either a placebo or no treatment. Patients in the placebo group got pills described to them as being made with an inert substance and showing in studies to improve symptoms via "mind-body self-healing processes." Participants were told they didn't have to believe in the placebo effect but should take the pills anyway, Dr. Kaptchuk says. After three weeks, placebo-group patients reported feelings of relief, significant reduction in some symptoms and some improvement in quality of life.

Which makes me go O.o.   In some cases noted in the article, the placebo effect is powerful, too. It makes me wonder if some of the people who cope with nasty side effects from drugs might be better off with a placebo.  Like, actually better off taking a sugar pill that they know is a sugar pill, rather than (a) doing nothing or (b) taking a drug with bad side effects.
o.O

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Comments

[the-vulture.livejournal.com]

You might want to have a look at a post I made regarding an article discussing the increasing effect of placebos: http://the-vulture.livejournal.com/187656.html

[rowyn]

I remember that!

I think what really grabbed me in this article was that it worked even when patients were given full disclosure and told they didn't have to believe it, and that the doctors themselves did not think the placebo was medicinal. Just ... whoa, weird. Like 'do something!' Works even if you *know* the 'something' is useless.

[the-vulture.livejournal.com]

It's kinda like how, for a while, I had a rather skeptical view of magic, but had a strong belief in the power of belief, itself. ('Course, within the last couple years, said skepticism has taken a few solid kicks to the groin.) I think much of shamanic healing practice functioned in a similar manner.

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

As a scientist, this makes me wonder about the curative effects of Sugar, rather than the power of positive thinking. After all, honey was used as a poltice to heal wounds in the middle ages. Might we have forgotten something through the ages?

[rowyn]

I don't think it's the sugar -- they use a variety of inert substances and methods as placebos.

Also, given how much sugar Americans consume anyway, it's hard to see one pill making a difference. :D

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

The 'placebo' ritual heals 0 hit points of damage, but still gets to add the doctor's medicine skill?

[rowyn]

Maybe it heals the patient's Faith score instead. O:)

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

Ha!

But, seriously, there was an earlier study that showed placebos had more effect when administered by a doctor. Presumably it doesn't have to be a real doctor, though. Maybe guile skill or something.

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

The power of ritual!

[rowyn]

It does make me want to make up warding rituals. :D Or guardian angels!

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

They would probably have a strong placebo effect as well!

...

Hmm. *eyes religion as a whole*