[The status of placebo treatment in a psychiatric hospital (author's transl)]

The placebo treatments at the Rheinische Landes- und Hochschulklinik für Psychiatrie Essen were registered during one year. With interviews and nurses' reports indication, situation, and supposed effect were inquired. A questionnaire investigated the therapists' and nursing staff's attitudes towards the therapy with placebos. 3,9% of the masculine and 6,1% of the feminine patients were treated with placebos without preference of an age or a group of diagnoses. Placebos were predominantly prescribed for concomitant symptoms of psychiatric diseases (especially complaints of sleep disorders or pain). Mostly placebos were taken in case of abuse, forceful lamentation, and assumption of physical complaints without an organic basis. The nursing staff often administered placebos without agreement of the doctor to avoid calling him at night. Between and within the professional groups there were marked differences in the attitudes towards placebos. Besides these results some problems of the use and outcome control of placebos are discussed. On the whole reserve in the medication of placebos is recommended.