As healthcare professionals, the placebo may be most familiar to us through its imperative use in being compared to a drug or treatment in clinical trials. However, recent surveys have shown the many physicians and psychiatrists prescribe placebos to patients as a form of treatment for their ailments in hopes patients may experience "the placebo effect". But what is this effect? How does it differ among patients? What are the ethical implications of using placebos? It is important for all healthcare providers to recognize that using placebo treatments have shown benefits in some diseases, but their use does not go without risks. This website was designed as an educational tool to be used by students and healthcare professionals to learn more about this fascinating and controversial topic. |
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"Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity" - Hippocrates
This website was created for educational purposes for students and healthcare professionals by Lauren Ostaff, candidate for BSc Phm 2013. Please feel free to contact the author with any questions by clicking on the "Contact" link in the top right hand corner of this homepage.
References:
1. Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health. Placebo. The Free Dictionary. http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/placebo. Published 2003. Accessed May 28, 2013.
2. Raz A, Campbell N, Guindi D, Holcroft C, Dery C, Cukier O. Placebos in Clinical Practice: Comparing Attitudes, Beliefs, and Patterns of Use Between Academic Psychiatrist and Nonpsychiatrists. Can J Psychiatry. 2011;56(4):198-208.
3. de Craen AJ, Roos PJ, Leonard de Vries A, Kleijnen J. Effect of colour of drugs: systematic review of perceived effect of drugs and of their effectiveness. BMJ. 1996;313(7072): 1624-6.
4. Kaptchuk TJ, Friedlander E, Kelley JM, Sanchez MN, Kokkotou E, Singer JP et al. Placebos without Deception: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Irritable Bowel Syndrome. PLoS One. 2010;5(12):e15591.
Image courtesy of:
http://alpha-1foundation.org/30th-anniversary-of-the-orphan-drug-act/
1. Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health. Placebo. The Free Dictionary. http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/placebo. Published 2003. Accessed May 28, 2013.
2. Raz A, Campbell N, Guindi D, Holcroft C, Dery C, Cukier O. Placebos in Clinical Practice: Comparing Attitudes, Beliefs, and Patterns of Use Between Academic Psychiatrist and Nonpsychiatrists. Can J Psychiatry. 2011;56(4):198-208.
3. de Craen AJ, Roos PJ, Leonard de Vries A, Kleijnen J. Effect of colour of drugs: systematic review of perceived effect of drugs and of their effectiveness. BMJ. 1996;313(7072): 1624-6.
4. Kaptchuk TJ, Friedlander E, Kelley JM, Sanchez MN, Kokkotou E, Singer JP et al. Placebos without Deception: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Irritable Bowel Syndrome. PLoS One. 2010;5(12):e15591.
Image courtesy of:
http://alpha-1foundation.org/30th-anniversary-of-the-orphan-drug-act/