Download The Placebo Effect

The Placebo Effect-A cure in the mind
By Matthew Barnes
Introduction
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What is the placebo effect?
Examples of the placebo effect
Placebo effect – Fact or Fiction?
Conclusion
What is the placebo effect?
• pləˈsiboʊ/; Latin: “shall please”
• the placebo effect is the measurable, observable,
or felt improvement in health or behavior not
attributable to a medication or invasive
treatment that has been administered
• The placebo effect can be produced by inert
tablets, by sham surgery, and by false
information, such as when electrical stimulation
is turned "off" in those with Parkinson's disease
implanted brain electrodes.
Example of the placebo effect
• “Mr. Wright” was dying from cancer of the lymph nodes. Orange-size
tumors had invaded his neck, groin, chest and abdomen, and his
doctors had exhausted all available treatments.
• Mr. Wright was confident that a new anticancer drug called Krebiozen
would cure him.
• Mr. Wright was bedridden and fighting for each breath when he
received his first injection. But three days later he was cheerfully
ambling around the unit, joking with the nurses.
• Mr. Wright’s tumors had shrunk by half, and after 10 more days of
treatment he was discharged from the hospital. And yet the other
patients in the hospital who had received Krebiozen showed no
improvement.
• Krebiozen is not known to possess any therapeutic value. Attempts to
analyze its composition have shown that Krebiozen consists only of the
amino acid dissolved in mineral oil
Placebo effect-fact or fiction?
• Placebos do not work for everyone.
• Though not everyone responds to a placebo,
neither does everyone respond to an actual
drug.
• Placebo Drugs are also used in drug trials to
test the effect of new drugs. However,
scientists have to be careful as the placebos
may have negative side effects
Conclusions
• Placebos have been around since the dawn of
man
• Sustains psychological healing
• Barely touched the surface of the human mind
• Plays an important part of modern medicine
• Unpredictable results
Any questions