Placebos in Medical Practice

An inactive substance or procedure given to a participant in a clinical trial, designed to be indistinguishable from the real treatment, ensuring blinding.

An experiment where participants are randomly assigned to different groups, one receiving the actual treatment and the other receiving a placebo.

A type of RCT where neither the participant nor the researcher knows who is getting the real treatment and who is getting the placebo.

A process that ensures participants and researchers don't know who is getting the treatment or placebo.

An effect where a person's belief in a treatment, even if fake, can lead to real physiological changes.

Theories that explain the placebo effect, including psychological factors like expectation and conditioning, and physiological factors like the release of endorphins.

The opposite of the placebo effect, where a negative expectation can lead to negative outcomes.

The use of placebos in clinical practice and research, and the ethical considerations surrounding their use, such as informed consent and potential deception.

A research design where neither the researcher nor the participant knows who receives the real treatment and who receives the placebo.

Theories that attribute the placebo effect to factors inherent to the treatment itself, such as the characteristics of the treatment or the patient's individual traits.

Theories that explain the placebo effect through interactions between the treatment, the patient, and the healthcare professional.

How the placebo effect may be influenced by factors related to the patient, such as their expectations, personality, or past experiences.

Theories that emphasize the role of physiological mechanisms, such as the release of endorphins or changes in neurotransmitter activity, in producing the placebo effect.

Theories that suggest that a patient's expectations about the treatment can influence the placebo effect.

A person's belief in a treatment, even if it's fake, can lead to real physiological changes.

The expectation of getting better can be the main psychological factor behind the placebo effect.

The study found that people who expected to recover from a heart attack were more likely to survive, regardless of whether they received a real beta-blocker or a placebo.

A participant's expectations can influence the outcome of a study, potentially leading to inaccurate results.

Patients who actively participated in their treatment plan were more likely to survive, demonstrating that active engagement in treatment can influence outcomes.

The more serious the perceived treatment, the more likely a person is to experience a placebo effect. This can be influenced by factors like the type of treatment (e.g., surgery vs. pill), the complexity of the treatment, or the perceived impact of the treatment.

Brand names and 'newer' medications are often perceived as more effective, potentially leading to a stronger placebo effect. This is despite their chemical composition often being identical to generic equivalents.

The higher the perceived status or expertise of the health professional, the greater the perceived effectiveness of their treatment. This contributes to a stronger placebo effect.

The practitioner's demeanor, warmth, and empathy play a crucial role in influencing the placebo effect. A caring and supportive approach can enhance the patient's belief in the treatment, leading to greater positive outcomes.

Experimenter bias arises when the researcher's expectations unconsciously influence the outcome of a study. This can occur when researchers unknowingly treat participants differently based on their expectations.

Confabulations refer to the tendency of patients to report improvement even if their symptoms remain the same. This can occur due to a combination of wishful thinking and the desire to please the practitioner.

Reporting error involves misattributing spontaneous improvements in symptoms to the treatment, even if it's simply a placebo effect. This can happen due to biased perceptions of both patients and doctors.

Interactive theories of the placebo effect emphasize the interplay between the patient, the practitioner, and the treatment itself. These theories suggest that the placebo effect is not solely dependent on individual factors, but rather on a complex interplay of factors.

A type of learning where an individual associates a neutral stimulus (e.g., a white coat) with a naturally occurring response (e.g., recovery), eventually leading to the neutral stimulus eliciting the same response on its own.

The theory that suggests the placebo effect primarily involves reducing anxiety by giving someone the feeling of control over their pain or condition.

The body's natural pain-killing system that involves the release of endorphins.

A study demonstrating that the placebo effect can be blocked by naloxone (opiate antagonist), suggesting that it involves the release of endorphins.

The theory emphasizing the role of patient expectation in the placebo effect; a strong belief that a treatment will work increases the chances of a positive outcome.

The use of placebos in clinical practice and research raises ethical concerns surrounding informed consent, potential deception, and the potential for harm.

A study where patients are unaware of whether they're receiving the real treatment or a placebo. This is done to isolate the effect of the patient's expectations from the actual treatment.

The effect of the doctor-patient relationship on treatment outcomes. This can be influenced by the doctor's demeanor, the patient's trust in the doctor, and the overall perceived legitimacy of the treatment.

The belief in the effectiveness of a treatment is a key factor in the placebo effect. It can activate the body's natural healing systems, such as the release of endorphins.

The concept that the placebo effect is not just psychological, but also physiological. It can involve changes in brain activity, neurotransmitter levels, and other biological processes.

The use of placebo treatments in clinical practice raises ethical concerns, particularly regarding informed consent and deception. It's important to ensure patients are aware of all risks and benefits, and that they are not misled.

A scientific experiment that compares the effects of an active treatment to a placebo. This helps to determine whether the actual treatment is truly effective or if the results are due to the placebo effect.

A pharmacologically inert substance or procedure given to a patient to benefit or please them, often used in research to understand the effects of a treatment beyond its inherent properties.

A study design where participants are randomly assigned to receive either a real treatment or a placebo, neither the participant nor the researcher knows who gets what, ensuring objective results.

The idea that the effect of a treatment can be influenced by factors surrounding it, not just the treatment itself. It emphasizes the role of expectations, beliefs, and the doctor-patient relationship.

The opposite of the placebo effect, where a negative expectation about a treatment can lead to negative or worsened symptoms.

The use of placebos in research or clinical settings raises ethical concerns, including the potential for deception, informed consent, and potential harm to patients.

A control group in a clinical trial that receives an inactive substance or procedure, indistinguishable from the real treatment, to ensure blinding in the study.

A research study where participants (and sometimes the researcher) are unaware of who is receiving the real treatment and who is receiving the placebo.

Theories that explain the placebo effect based on the characteristics of the treatment itself or the patient's individual traits.

Theories that explain the placebo effect through interactions between the treatment, the patient, and the healthcare professional.

Theories that emphasize the role of physiological mechanisms, such as the release of endorphins or changes in neurotransmitter activity, in producing the placebo effect.

The idea that the more serious the perception of a treatment is, the larger the placebo effect will be. This means that even though the treatment itself might be inactive, the belief in its potency can lead to stronger results.

The more important or powerful the physician is perceived to be, the more effective their treatment is likely to be, even if the treatment is a placebo.

Patients who receive treatment from doctors who believe in the treatment's effectiveness are more likely to experience positive outcomes, even if they are receiving a placebo.

The tendency for patients to report improvements in their symptoms even if they haven't actually changed. This can be influenced by wishful thinking or a desire to please the doctor.

This refers to the possibility that patients and doctors may misinterpret spontaneous improvements in health as a direct result of the treatment, even if it was a placebo.

These theories focus only on aspects of the patient, the treatment, or the medical professional, ignoring how these factors might interact.

The study showed that patients who adhered to their treatment plan (whether it was the real medication or a placebo) were more likely to survive.

The idea that a treatment's effectiveness can be influenced by factors beyond its inherent properties, such as patient expectations and the doctor-patient relationship.

A type of deception where a doctor prescribes a placebo, an inactive treatment, without disclosing its true nature to the patient.

The practice of prescribing placebos, either pure (inactive substances) or impure (medications with known but unrelated effects) in a clinical setting.

A placebo effect can be influenced by factors unrelated to the actual treatment, such as the doctor's perceived expertise, the patient's expectations, and the belief in the treatment's effectiveness.