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[The placebo as a nonspecific treatment factor]
1Pharmakologisches Institut, Universität Wien.
Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift
|October 23, 1987
Summary
Placebo effects, driven by patient-physician interactions, influence treatment outcomes in 30-50% of patients. Psychological mechanisms, not endorphins, explain these effects, impacting drug efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Psychology
Context:
- Nonspecific drug actions arise from the patient-physician relationship and medical setting.
- Placebo effects are common, influencing treatment outcomes significantly.
Purpose:
- To explore the mechanisms and prevalence of placebo effects in medical treatments.
- To differentiate between positive and negative placebo responses and their influencing factors.
Summary:
- Positive placebo effects occur in 30-35% of patients, particularly for vegetative and psychic symptoms, with no specific 'placebo responder' personality type identified.
- Negative placebo effects range from 4-50%, and side effects can amplify or diminish a drug's therapeutic efficiency.
- Current evidence does not support endorphin mediation for placebo-induced analgesia, suggesting psychological mechanisms are primary.
Impact:
- Understanding placebo effects can optimize therapeutic strategies by leveraging the non-specific components of treatments.
- Ethical considerations surround the conscious use of placebos, but exploiting the placebo component of active drugs is recommended to enhance efficacy.