Everyone loves hearing about placebo studies, don't they? Here's a cool article at The Conversation about them, with some new aspects I hadn't heard of before:
When a doctor prescribes ibuprofen for back pain, the effects are due to the ibuprofen and the patient’s beliefs and expectations, which can be influenced by the doctor’s communication. Doctors who offer positive messages in a warm, empathic manner will increase the effect of the drugs.
The size and colour of the pill can also influence the effect. A large, orange pill can reduce pain more than a small, red one.
By contrast, blue pills generally have a sedative effect – except for Italian men, for whom blue pills have an excitative effect), probably because their revered football team wears blue.
Doctors’ ethical duty to benefit patients suggests it is an ethical duty to maximise the placebo effects of all treatments they provide.
No comments:
Post a Comment