The placebo effect - justifiable?

[jez9999]

The placebo effect is a well-researched phenomenon, and we're pretty sure it happens. A question I find very interesting is: is it justifiable, from a medical standpoint, to knowingly lie to patients in order to achieve a placebo effect? Maybe they're allergic to the drugs needed to cure their condition, or you don't want to overuse certain drugs as bacteria/viruses may get resistant to them, or drugs are too expensive, or whatever.

It's a very difficult situation, because if accepted it would make referring people to things like homeopathy actually legitimate... until everyone discovered that it was being done just to achieve the placebo effect, at which point it would presumably cease to be effective.

My own opinion is that we can't really achieve the placebo effect in the long term because the second doctors start lying to you sometimes (as they would have to do), the public will quickly lose confidence in them. However I'd be interested in others' opinions on this. If people are gullible enough to believe that homeopathy works, could it be considered a valid 'field of medicine' even if its sole medicinal purpose is triggering the placebo effect? Unfortunately, having the enquiring mind that I do, demanding of real scientific evidence, I suspect I'm less open to the placebo effect than most.

[Squeak_the_Mouse]

You might not have to lie. I recall reading about a study where they found that the placebo effect still works in some cases even if you are knowning taking a placebo. I suppose if believing a sugar pill can help you will help you then why shouldn't believing the placebo effect itself will help you, help you?

[feign_ignorence]

Once we fully understand what happens with this phenomena, we will just find ways to tell our bodies how to achieve the same effect by pure will.

Its more worthwile to educate people on prevention than by taking advantage of gullable people to trick their bodies into working towards positive psychosomatic health benefits.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

The placebo effect only works in some cases (about 20-30% I think) and varies according to the condition. There is no way of predicting this in individual cases and thus knowing if a placebo will be at all beneficial.

Another huge consideration is that those referred for placebo homeopathy that appear to feel some beneficial effects might then come to rely on, and believe in, homeopathic woo as a preferred treatment for more serious ailments - eg. refusing chemotherapy in favour of diluted-to-death extract of pig's bollock.

Finally, the placebo can only give the impression of symptomatic relief. It cannot cure the underlying condition.

[ginckgo]

Ben Goldachre on the Placebo Effect