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Pain and the placebo response

P D Wall1

  • 1Department of Anatomy & Developmental Biology, University College London, UK.

Ciba Foundation Symposium
|January 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary

The placebo effect, driven by patient belief, significantly relieves pain and other conditions. This powerful phenomenon is often misunderstood, but scientific models explain its neurological basis.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Medical Research

Background:

  • The placebo response is a well-documented phenomenon influencing various conditions, notably pain relief.
  • It is often misunderstood and dismissed due to misconceptions linking it to quackery or questioning therapeutic validity.
  • Common myths suggest placebos only affect suggestible individuals or only impact psychological aspects of pain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clarify the nature of the placebo response and its underlying mechanisms.
  • To debunk prevalent myths surrounding placebo effects.
  • To present a neurobiological model explaining how placebos influence perception and behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Review and dismissal of common myths regarding placebo efficacy.
  • Presentation of a neurobiological model of decision-making and perception.
  • Explanation of pain perception within the context of preconscious behavioral decisions.

Main Results:

  • Placebo effects are a genuine and powerful therapeutic influence, not an artifact.
  • Myths that limit the understanding of placebos are scientifically unfounded.
  • A brain model is proposed where preconscious processes influence the perception of pain based on biological needs.

Conclusions:

  • The placebo response is a significant and valid phenomenon rooted in brain function.
  • Understanding the neurobiological basis of placebos is crucial for medical research and practice.
  • Pain perception is modulated by preconscious decision-making processes, offering a framework for placebo effects.

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