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Placebo effects in therapeutic outcomes
Adam P Horin, Kent M Lee, Luana Colloca1
1National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center, 10 Center Drive, 10/1C154, Bethesda, MD 20892-1156, USA. luana.colloca@nih.gov.
Current Clinical Pharmacology
|January 25, 2013
Summary
Future medical practice may incorporate placebos and placebo effects, supported by growing research into their mechanisms. This review explores their potential as co-treatments for conditions like pain and depression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Medical Ethics
Background:
- Recent clinical research has elucidated the mechanisms of placebo responses.
- Placebos are increasingly relevant in medical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the medical implications of placebos and placebo effects.
- To explore the potential of placebo effects as co-treatments for various disorders.
- To emphasize the role of the patient-clinician relationship in treatment efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of crucial studies on placebo effects.
- Analysis of physiological and psychological mechanisms.
- Emphasis on patient-clinician relationship dynamics.
Main Results:
- Placebo effects are linked to specific physiological and psychological mechanisms.
- The patient-clinician relationship significantly influences treatment outcomes.
- Placebo effects show potential as adjunctive therapy for pain, depression, and Parkinson's disease.
Conclusions:
- Placebo effects are a significant factor in medical treatment.
- Understanding placebo mechanisms can optimize therapeutic strategies.
- The patient-clinician relationship is paramount for harnessing placebo effects effectively.
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