Related Experiment Videos
[The placebo effect in bone metastatic pain].
F Boureau1, A Leizorovicz, F Caulin
1Unité de Traitement de la douleur, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris.
Presse Medicale (Paris, France : 1983)
|May 28, 1988
Summary
Patients experiencing bone metastasis pain reported significant analgesic effects from placebo. This unexpected finding highlights the potent placebo effect in pain management, influencing treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Clinical Psychology
- Oncology
Background:
- Bone metastasis pain is a significant challenge in cancer care.
- The placebo effect, a well-documented phenomenon, can influence patient-reported outcomes.
- Understanding placebo response characteristics is crucial for designing effective clinical trials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the analgesic effects and characteristics of placebo in patients with bone metastasis pain.
- To explore patient and physician perceptions of placebo effectiveness.
- To identify factors associated with placebo responsiveness.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, multicentre study involving 38 patients with bone metastasis pain.
- Patients received a placebo treatment over 7 days.
- Data collected included physician and patient assessments of effectiveness, self-estimated pain improvement, and pain descriptive scale scores.
Main Results:
- A notable analgesic effect was observed in the placebo group.
- Physicians and patients considered the placebo effective in 57% and 51% of cases, respectively.
- Mean self-estimated improvement was 30-40% and persisted for 7 days post-treatment. Younger patients and those with lower sensory pain scores were more likely to respond to placebo.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates a significant and persistent placebo effect in bone metastasis pain.
- Patient demographics and pain perception influence placebo response.
- These findings have implications for clinical trial design and understanding pain modulation mechanisms.