The Placebo Effect The Placebo Effect Refers to

The Placebo Effect

The Placebo Effect Refers to an improvement in symptoms as a result of medical treatment with an inactive substance or staged medical procedure. patient recovers without genuine medical intervention attributed to belief in the effectiveness of treatment belief mediates healing of symptoms cases reported since the early 20th century

Dramatic Example: Knee Surgery Doctor conducted controlled experiment on three groups of patients with knee pain. first group: shaved off thin layers of damaged cartilage second group: flushed out the knee joint and disposed of unhealthy tissue

Third Group The surgeon simulated surgery by anesthetizing patients and making incisions. No knee surgery was performed. Patients were informed of staged operations two years later.

Results Knee pain diminished significantly in all three groups. no difference in the level of pain decrease in any one group uniform results mediated by the placebo effect

Placebo Patient Quoted as saying: “Anything is possible when you put your mind to it.”

Research on Other Diseases Depression is an area of major interest: recent increase in use of antidepressants critics claim that the $9.6 billion industry is making profit on pills no more effective than placebos

Antidepressant Study Psychology professor at University of Connecticut obtained hard data on clinical studies of six major antidepressants. Concluded: 80% of the effectiveness of antidepressants was due to the placebo effect.

Neuroscience Neuroscientists have technology to determine the brain mechanisms responsible for the placebo effect. Brain imaging techniques record events instigated by anticipation of symptom relief. The body’s own pain relief center releases chemical to ease pain.

Other Studies Parkinson’s disease: dopamine deficiency is a factor Patients release dopamine upon ingesting a placebo.

The Body’s Capacity to Heal Researchers conclude that the body has innate healing capacity. invoked through the power of belief

Up Until This Point… Doctors have invested therapeutic effort in drugs and surgery. effective way in which to increase incomes