Monday, May 18, 2020

IBD improves even when the patient knows they're taking placebo

Placebos have been accepted in science as a means of comparing the effect of doing "nothing" compared to some medication under study. But the effect of the placebo is known to be beneficial - so what happens if you tell the patient that they are getting a placebo? You also empathetically listen and encourage them that they will improve - is that positive interaction able to produce results?  The surprising answer is yes. 

Here's the actual formal study of placebo effect from knowingly taking placebos.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2832199/

And here's a podcast including an intriguing interview with one of the patients doubting herself but willing to try placebo, and desperately wanting it continued after the trial ended!
https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDMwOC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbA&ep=14&episode=ZWZlZmMxZWEtOGQxMy00MzM3LTg4N2ItMzhiYmFmMTI3MmU3

https://www.npr.org/2020/05/11/853753307/all-the-worlds-a-stage-including-the-doctor-s-office

Also, here's a freakonomics episode about placebos
https://freakonomics.com/podcast/is-the-placebo-effect-for-real/

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