in episode No. 30 argues that the studies of placebo Ben refers to may be just researcher bias, as suggested also by the Cochrane review of placebo studies:
“Placebo interventions are often claimed to substantially improve many clinical conditions. However, most reports on effects of placebos are based on unreliable studies that have not randomised patients to placebo or no treatment.
“We studied the effect of placebo treatments by reviewing 202 trials comparing placebo treatment with no treatment covering 60 healthcare problems. In general, placebo treatments produced no major health benefits, although on average they had a modest effect on outcomes reported by patients, such as pain. However, the effect on pain varied from large to non-existent, even in well-conducted trials. Variations in the effect of placebo was partly explained by variations in how trials were conducted, the type of placebo used, and whether patients were informed that the trial involved placebo. ”
Can it really be true that the body actually is able to cure itself of diseases by wishful thinking? Isnt that the kind of woo that is the stock in trade of alternative practitioners?
One response to placebo effect
Interesting stuff- but a contributor to The Pod Delusion:
http://poddelusion.co.uk/blog/
in episode No. 30 argues that the studies of placebo Ben refers to may be just researcher bias, as suggested also by the Cochrane review of placebo studies:
Can it really be true that the body actually is able to cure itself of diseases by wishful thinking? Isnt that the kind of woo that is the stock in trade of alternative practitioners?