Symptoms, placebo effect

The current evidence suggests that there might be some beneficial effects on postmenopausal symptoms, but it is not possible to be more categorical at present given the conflicting observations in the limited number of studies undertaken and the possibility that placebo effect may explain the changes noted in the incidence of subjective symptoms. 

Our study showed that enhancing the therapeutic relationship boosts the placebo effect. Other studies have shown that the same thing happens when real treatments are delivered within the context of a caring relationship. When a doctor is warm, friendly, reassuring and confident in the effectiveness of the treatment, patients show greater symptom reduction and recover from illnesses more quickly.7... 

As it had argued successfully in Upjohn v. Finch, the FDA needed something more scientific than personal accounts from patients and physicians to validate a drug s effectiveness. Informal evaluation by patients and doctors is subject to placebo effects (placebo is Latin for I will please ). Originally, a placebo referred to a harmless substance given to please a patient complaining about symptoms that otherwise could not be treated. The belief of the... 

PLACEBO EFFECT A psychological phenomenon noted by researchers in which patients who receive a phony medication feel better and report improvements in subjective symptoms such as pain or depression. 

The human data, as well as the animal studies indicate that cannabinoids may ameliorate some symptoms of MS. Unfortunately, a definitive large-scale study has yet to be performed. Such a study should take into account that (a) the placebo effect in MS is very high (b) the effective doses recorded are close to, or identical with the doses that cause cannabimimetic effects (c) cannabis (marijuana, hashish) is obviously not identical to zf9-THC, and that other constituents may synergize THC action (d) smoking cannot be compared with oral administration, and (e) the anal route of administration [141] may be a preferred one. 

Placebos have been found to have effects similar to the active medication being compared.Many investigators have attempted to quantify the placebo response. Scales such as the placebo effect scale (PES) and the side effect scale (SES) have been used to identify patients likely to exhibit placebo effects. These scales determine possible predictors of placebo response such as demographic variables, illness characteristics, and diagnostic and symptom variables to identify patients at increased benefit or risk of demonstrating a placebo response.The need for routine use of such scales prior to inclusion in clinical trials and implications of identifying those most susceptible to placebo response require further study. 

Studies continue on the effect that D-glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate have on degenerative joint disease. To date the studies are inconclusive because a large placebo effect is observed with sufferers of osteoarthritis. Many people in the control groups of these studies also experience relief of symptoms when they receive treatment with a placebo, such as a sugar pill. 

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