Placebo Effect Works Both Ways

[n2doc]

ScienceDaily (Feb. 27, 2011) — Poor expectations of treatment can override all the effect of a potent pain-relieving drug, a brain imaging study at Oxford University has shown.

In contrast, positive expectations of treatment doubled the natural physiological or biochemical effect of the opioid drug among the healthy volunteers in the study.

The study of the placebo effect -- and its opposite the nocebo effect -- is published in Science Translational Medicine. The findings suggest that doctors may need to consider dealing with patients' beliefs about the effectiveness of any treatment, as well as determining which drug might be the best for that patient.

'Doctors shouldn't underestimate the significant influence that patients' negative expectations can have on outcome,' says Professor Irene Tracey of the Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain at Oxford University, who led the research. '

more

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110226212356.htm

[gateley]

1. We need to explore the powers of the mind and of the mind/body connection. I recall

a "scientific report" on Stigmata. The findings were it was "all in their minds" - so they dismissed it. I'm screaming - "If my mind can make me spill blood on selected points of my body, shouldn't you study my MIND?" Sheesh. If it doesn't come with a pharmaceutical label on it, it's worthless. :grr:

[HereSince1628]

2. I do believe this is a significant factor in psychotherapy

If a client (we never call ourselves patients) isn't ready, there is no way to make any CBT based therapy work. Popular 'skills' therapy involving Buddhist mindfulness frequently fails because people find it to be full of spiritualism that they reject. But, the same therapies work for those who can believe in it.

[CanSocDem]

3. And all this time....

...you thought it was a vast left wing plot to take away your high priced drugs. The truth hurts, as they say, but in this case, the truth can be anything you want.


"The findings suggest that doctors may need to consider dealing with patients' beliefs about the effectiveness of any treatment, as well as determining which drug might be the best for that patient."

I like coffee and cigarettes.

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