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Wednesday, October 5. 2016

The Myth of the Placebo Effect

It is overrated. 


The placebo idea has a long history, back to ancient Greek medicine. However, in my experience the placebo effect, such as it is, seems most powerful in the ignorant and the suggestible. Hence the enduring popularity of quackery like naturopaths and homeopaths.


While it remains true that modern physicians often recommend treatments with marginal effects, those marginal effects are likely not imaginary.

Posted by Dr. Joy Bliss in Medical, Psychology, and Dr. Bliss at 17:01 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

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Counterpoint: http://www.nature.com/nrn/journal/v16/n7/abs/nrn3976.html
#1 peacelovewoodstock on 2016-10-05 17:27 (Reply)
Stiil, a good test to run, especially for drugs used to treat mental illnesses..

The SSRIs in particular, had to be run through several placebo tests. Still not sure they truly passed, yet they are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the world!
#2 B48 on 2016-10-06 14:53 (Reply)
I am struck by the similarity of this post and the previous one. Dr. Bliss writes
QUOTE:
the placebo effect, such as it is, seems most powerful in the ignorant and the suggestible.


The previous post was about global warming. I believe one could argue that windmills and solar energy are placebos for the True Believers in global warming. And the True Believers are indeed, "ignorant and suggestible."
#3 feeblemind on 2016-10-07 11:57 (Reply)

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