Talk:Placebo effect
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by DrSandstone (talk | contribs) at 19:34, December 2, 2008. It may differ significantly from current revision.
"A placebo is inactive and therefore it is not from any physical effect of the placebo that it works."
Okay, but what does this mean? --Ed Poor Talk 14:21, 2 December 2008 (EST)
- It is essential that the placebo does not have any physical effects, whether "direct" or "indirect". The effect of a placebo is due to the patient "knowing" they are receiving a treatment. For example, if you had a headache and I slipped you a placebo without you knowing it, it would not have an effect. This is because a placebo does not have any direct or indirect physical effects. The placebo itself it completely inactive, inert, what have you. If it did have an effect, it wouldn't be a placebo. It would be a headache reliever!DavidJohnson 14:24, 2 December 2008 (EST)
- I already understood about "slipping". I'm wondering about the indirect physical effect, in a mind/body sense. My coworker told me last month, after I brewed a pot of coffee, that he already felt perked up - even before he went to fill his cup. And Pavlov's dogs certainly did salivate (a physical effect) after hearing the bell. I'd call that an indirect physical effect. --Ed Poor Talk 14:27, 2 December 2008 (EST)
- As I understand it, the placebo does not cause any physical effects itself, but can have psychological effects which manifest physical effects. Also, I think there are distinctions made when a placebo is used for studying psychology, and when they are used as controls in drug trials. -DrSandstone 14:34, 2 December 2008 (EST)