THE PLACEBO EFFECT

Listen to the lecture and complete the summary notes. Write NO MORE THAN 3 WORDS for each blank.

A. TOPIC INTRODUCTION & LECTURE PLANNING

Topic: THE PLACEBO EFFECT

 Explanation of the placebo effect & how placebos have been used
 Some possible causes for this effect
 Some studies and some questions about the use of placebos in testing and treatment of illnesses.

B. EXPLANATION OF THE PLACEBO EFFECT & HOW PLACEBOS HAVE BEEN USED

1. Placebo and placebo effect:

- Placebo: a _______________________________________________. (sugar pills – no actual active
_____________________________ , harmless substance)
- Placebo: pill, ___________________________________, or even surgery
 sham treatment
(What I mean istreatment that does not actively treat a patient’s illness nor have actual medical benefit)
- Placebo effect: __________________________________ that patients receive from a placebo.
(In other wordsan_______________________________________due to a placebo, not any real treatment)
the belief is helping them
2. Placebo has been used for a long time:
- 1930s-1940s: used for aches, pains, and ____________________________________________.
- now: “_______________________________________” of new drugs and treatments.
3. Clinical trials:
 blind clinical trials: volunteer patients in 2 groups with
one group receiving placebo and the other receiving the
new drug or treatment. Researchers know which group
is taking what. Volunteers don’t know about this. placebo effect: __________________________
Researchers know whether the real drug is getting the - in a number of studies: 30-40%
desired ______________________________ shown improvement with placebo
 double-blind clinical trials: Researchers don’t know - in a few trials: up to ____________
effectiveness
who is taking what.
No bias when analyzing (researchers’ expectations
don’t influence the results)
C.POSSIBLE CAUSES

1. Explanation 1: That is the _______________________________ of an illness or an injury (natural

improvement)
2. Explanation 2: Placebo effect is merely ________________________________ (in the patient’s mind)
- If patients expect to improve, they’ll improve.
- Supporting studies: when doctors tell patients they expect the treatment to work, the
placebo effect
______________________ and patients improve; when doctors say the treatment might not be
effective, the placebo effect may not work.

expectation of improvement leads to _______________________________________________.

3. Explanation 3: The process of going through treatment is therapeutic.

- seeing ______________________________________, caring, attentive doctors encourages patients, gives
them hope, and makes them feel better.

EFFECTS:

- actual physiological improvements in patients

D. SOME STUDIES AND QUESTIONS ABOUT USING PLACEBOS

- Study at UCLA: 51 patients suffering from _____________________________

 52% with real drug felt better
 38% with a placebo also felt better
 actual increase in the __________________________________of patients having the placebo  their health
condition actually improved
- Results also repeat in variety of illnesses: ____________________________ to common cold.

 Real debate in the medical community:

- Some: doctors should describe placebos because they are harmless.
- Most doctors don’t want to because it is ____________________________________.