All articles tagged with #placebo
This study explores the neural and molecular effects of a 7-day mind-body retreat combining meditation, reconceptualization, and healing rituals, revealing significant changes in brain connectivity, neuroplasticity markers, metabolic pathways, immune responses, and exosomal RNAs, suggesting systemic physiological and psychological benefits beyond placebo effects.
A large, rigorous clinical trial found that repeated ketamine infusions do not provide additional benefits over standard inpatient care for major depression, with no significant differences in depression scores, cognition, or quality of life compared to placebo, highlighting the need for cautious clinical use and reevaluation of ketamine's efficacy.
RFK Jr. advocates for all new vaccines to be tested against placebos, but many experts argue this isn't always scientifically or ethically appropriate, especially when effective vaccines already exist. The debate centers on balancing rigorous safety testing with ethical considerations, as most childhood vaccines were historically tested against placebos, but modern standards often prevent placebo use when effective treatments are available.
A brain imaging study shows that expectations influence pain differently depending on whether they are shaped by external cues or treatment information, with cues affecting pain-related brain activity more reliably than placebo explanations, highlighting the importance of how healthcare providers communicate with patients.
A meta-analysis of 90 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 10,000 adults found that placebos can significantly improve symptoms of various mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety. The study supports the ethical use of placebo controls in clinical trials and suggests that initial non-medication approaches may be viable for some patients. However, for disorders like OCD and schizophrenia, medication remains crucial. The findings highlight the importance of belief in treatment and the natural course of mental disorders.
A study found that imagining taking a placebo pill is more effective at reducing visually induced disgust than actually ingesting a placebo pill. This novel approach to open-label placebo administration suggests significant potential for emotion regulation in both clinical and non-clinical settings.
Open-label placebos (OLPs) have gained attention in the medical community as a potential treatment for various conditions, despite the lack of a clear understanding of how they work. OLPs involve prescribing inert substances to patients, openly acknowledging that they are placebos. While the concept of the placebo response is not new, the use of open-label placebos has gained traction in recent years. Researchers have proposed several hypotheses for why OLPs may be effective, including the psychological impact of taking action, conditioned expectations, and the therapeutic encounter between the researcher and patient. Ultimately, the use of OLPs highlights the importance of hope and the patient's belief in the power of treatment.
Patients' beliefs about their treatment, whether real or placebo, play a significant role in the effectiveness of neurostimulation treatments for conditions like depression and ADHD, according to a study analyzing five independent studies. The research found that patients' perceptions often had more impact on outcomes than the treatments themselves, with beliefs sometimes fully explaining the results, interacting with the treatment, or having no influence at all. The study highlights the need to consider and record patients' beliefs in clinical research, suggesting it could be a key factor in treatment efficacy across various medical fields.
A landmark trial has found that opioids are not effective in relieving acute low back or neck pain in the short term and may lead to worse outcomes in the long term. The study, involving 347 adults, showed no significant difference in pain scores between those who took opioids and those who took a placebo after 6 weeks. After 1 year, patients given the placebo had slightly lower pain scores, and those using opioids were at a greater risk of opioid misuse. The results suggest that opioids should not be recommended for acute low back or neck pain.
A study conducted in Australia found that opioids are no more effective than a placebo in relieving low back pain. The study, which included 350 participants, showed that both the placebo and opioid groups reported similar pain levels over a six-week treatment period. The placebo group even reported slightly lower pain intensity. The findings highlight the need for alternative treatments for managing back pain, such as non-prescription pain medicines and heat application. The study's results are particularly relevant in the context of the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States.
A new study from Lund University in Sweden highlights the challenges in clinical studies on osteoarthritis treatments. Patients with osteoarthritis often undergo variations in their level of pain, which can complicate the interpretation of results. The study found that much of the apparent treatment effect is just an illusion due to natural variation, and researchers need to take regression to the mean into account. To determine whether a treatment is effective or not, there must be an adequate control group that receives a placebo, and the treatment is randomly allocated.
In a study from Stanford University, intravenous ketamine failed to beat an active placebo for treating depression. The supposed rapid antidepressant effect of ketamine disappeared when compared to the placebo. The study was triple-blinded, and the researchers used surgical anesthesia as the active placebo. The researchers suggest that the placebo effect may be responsible for the supposed powerful antidepressant effects of ketamine. Ketamine has many effects that make it challenging to do a genuinely blinded trial, such as dizziness, nausea, and dissociative states.
P-value is a measurement used in clinical trials to determine if a new drug outperforms a placebo by a statistically significant margin. Despite its shortcomings, it is still considered the gold standard for statistical significance in drug development.