4 ms·
Isn't the answer simple? Make a pill which prevents the placebo effect, among those susceptible to it. Administer it just before any other placebo/non-placebo
by gojomo 10y ago
Isn't the answer simple?
Make a pill which prevents the placebo effect, among those susceptible to it. Administer it just before any other placebo/non-placebo medications.
A tic-tac printed with a pharmaceutical company logo should be sufficient as the anti-placebo-effect pill, as long as a clear explanation of its expected effect is provided.
- benchaney 10y agoThat wouldn't actually work because even if you don't believe in the placebo effect, you would still be expecting to get better if you thought you were taking the drug.
- KingMob 10y agoHmmm. Interesting idea, but because beliefs aren't easily conscious or controllable, it seems unlikely a pill relying on the placebo effect to wipe out a later placebo effect would work. Regardless, what if high placebo responders believed they weren't high responders (aka, "advertising doesn't affect me")? They would expect the first pill to have no effect, and thus the second placebo would. Or what if they expect it to wear off by the time of the second pill?