Posted by Ines on May 4, 2007, at 13:32:01
In reply to Placebo effect, posted by Declan on May 3, 2007, at 22:32:45
I would say the placebo effect would be strongest in those who really want help and believe whatever they have can be cured by taking a pill. I think in a way the less you know about your condition, and the more faith you have in doctors, the more likely you are to have the 'benefits' of a strong placebo effect; my guess would be that most of us here are too engaged with the process and knowledgeable about what depression is and how it works to benefit from a strong placebo effect- and also too opinionated about what will work for us! Unless of course you've been wanting to get a hold on some particular medication for ages and finally get a prescription- then you probably will get some placebo effect [Like me with the parnate I'm about to start :-)]
I have a close friend who's a family doctor, and is also very compassionate and generous with his time. He has a private practice but also volunteers at a community hospital a couple of times a week. He told me he almost invariably gets elderly patients come in on a regular basis when clearly there is nothing wrong with them, they just want some company.... He said very often he will diagnose them with something very vague like 'general malaise' and give them 'the pill that will definitely sort that out'. It's a sugar pill... he carries them around all the time in official looking containers. It may sound condescending but I think he really helps them (of course he doesn't charge). He's incredibly popular and some of these patients will regularly come in for refills- this is a rural hospital and patients keep leaving gifts at the hospital for him, like produce and the such, but sometimes also well meant cumbersome gifts like live hens and even sometimes puppies! (he's got 5 dogs; guess why...). Anyway, the power of placebo... (I'm sure this wouldn't be possible in the US btw)
poster:Ines
thread:755317
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070502/msgs/755797.html