18 ms·
It is a big misconception that the placebo effect must be ineffective — there wouldn't be an effect at all if that was the case. I hear it's sometimes even effe
by norswap 8y ago
It is a big misconception that the placebo effect must be ineffective — there wouldn't be an effect at all if that was the case. I hear it's sometimes even effective when you're told you're taking a placebo.
- Vraxx 8y agoDefinitely this needs to be pointed out more. My wife used to get upset if I suggested something might be a placebo because she thought I was telling her that she was fabricating the observed effects on her. I think the placebo effect still working even if the person is told it is a placebo is a factor of whether or not you consider placebo to be "bad" or "ineffective". To me it just suggests a difference in the actual mechanism of how the placebo is effective. I'm curious to know if there are ways to increase the effectiveness of placebo by having a strong/pleasant smell or taste associated with it or some other sensory effect that is immediately noticeable.
- TACIXAT 8y agoIf it were placebo I should have been perfectly happy taking acetominophen or ibuprofen for my sinus headaches (back when I didn't realize they were sinus headaches). Sudafed PE causes my nose to drain and sinus headaches to go away, I wish I knew about it sooner.
- losvedir 8y agoI've always found it fascinating that naloxone (the drug administered to people who OD on heroin, since it counters the effects) actually does make the placebo effect go away (that is, placebos become ineffective). Makes me think that the placebo effect is very real and something like a self-induced opiate.
- copperx 8y agoI've always wondered why placebo works for minor problems (a cold, nasal congestion, mild pain) but it does not for real diseases. For example, you never see chemotherapy treatments compared to placebo (because it is unethical to conduct such a study), but it could be done with "wait and monitor" cancers such as slow-growing prostate cancer.