You Do Not Need To Give A Placebo To Create A Placebo Effect

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/179671.php

"The evidence behind placebo effects and the clinical and ethical considerations are examined in a review in this week's edition of The Lancet. The analysis is the work of Damien G Finniss, University of Sydney Pain Management and Research Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia, and colleagues.

The authors comment: "For many years, placebos have been defined by their inert content and their use as controls in clinical trials and treatments in clinical practice. Recent research shows that placebo effects are genuine psychobiological events attributable to the overall therapeutic context, and that these effects can be robust in both laboratory and clinical settings. There is also evidence that placebo effects can exist in clinical practice, even if no placebo is given."

The fact that there is not one placebo effect but many is a fundamental conclusion in the review. Mechanistically, there are very different placebo effects. Meaning that, the psychosocial situation of a patient when they receive a treatment can be very influential in changing a person's physiology.

Many mechanisms have been identified from the psychological viewpoint. They include:

• expectations about the effect of a treatment
• desire for symptom relief
• several learning processes such as classical conditioning and social observation

..."

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Another piece of another puzzle, but much more research needs to be done, and ethics of the matter need to be explored. And...

a steep reduction in withdrawal symptoms as soon as the addict thinks s/he will get the drug soon, whether through scoring or treatment in the hospital. I've observed this myself, a drop in respiratory rate, heart rate and blood pressure occurring immediately when I've told a person that the medication is due. This is also part of the placebo effect, a reduction in the anxiety that accompanies any disease process.

It also explains why patients who control their own morphine administration use far less of the drug. The anxiety of having someone else in charge of their pain relief is eliminated and that reduces their discomfort.

IMO, a great deal of the placebo effect can be explained by a reduction in the anxiety surrounding any illness.

It's also been well known that simply wearing the medical uniform of a white lab coat decreases patient anxiety by telling them non verbally that help is on the way.

thinking about not smoking every single minute, feeling as though my body was screaming for nicotine. I'd finally tell myself I couldn't take it any more and decide to run to the store to get a pack.

It took several episodes for me to realize that my agitated state and withdrawal symptoms subsided when I made the decision to go to store to get some. When I'd actually light up, it was almost a 'meh' moment.

I also think we can do wonders with our mind. I recall seeing a show on stigmata years ago. After much study and testing, it was decided that the phenomenon was "just in the mind" of the experiencers. I thought 'JUST in the mind?" If my mind can cause me to bleed from my hands, feet, side, doesn't that give us an idea of the power we can harness? Instead of dismissing it as the aberration of a disturbed person, shouldn't we be investigation HOW that person gets their mind to make physical manifestations occur? :shrug:

Unfortunately, the placebo effect doesn't work on everybody and it doesn't work on susceptible people 100% of the time.

I'm glad you had the insight to notice the reduction in anxiety as soon as you decided to fall off the nicotine wagon.

I hope you've managed to quit. We need everybody to be healthy and able to YELL.

"Unfortunately, the placebo effect doesn't work on everybody and it doesn't work on susceptible people 100% of the time."

Some people can't take it because the side effects are terrible with their particular chemistry.

mind, learn how to use it to produce the results we want. Like those who exhibit stigmata -- what is it about their brain activity that results in the manifestation? If it's 'just' belief, then what are the mechanisms of belief that permit that belief to become physical reality? What are the differences between those who respond to placebo than those who don't? Stuff like that.

What helped me quit more than anything else was the realization that my mind/thoughts were making it more difficult for me to be successful. Instead of giving so much importance to what I was thinking or feeling, I kind of flipped a mental switch that reduced it to "oh, that's my mind that's making it such a big deal" and I guess just putting it into perspective. I'm one of the lucky ones. :7

as part of an actual treatment regimen for a disease or ailment.

It think it's unethical for a patient to not be fully informed of, and fully participative in, the treatment they're getting. That's not possible with a placebo. Essentially, the care provider is lying to the patient, telling them they're getting medicine, while giving them sugar (or whatever).

I don't think that dishonesty should be part of any medical treatment.

Sid

I can't find a way to justify direct lying to a patient.

However, in some instances I think it can be "used" without deceit. For example, many a psychiatrist, upon starting anti-depressant treatment, will mention to his or her depressed patient that some people do feel better in the first week. This despite the fact that the psychiatrist will also be noting that it may take four weeks or longer to see benefits. In this case, the psychiatrist is not lying, but is suggesting something that might lead to a placebo effect.