Posted by SLS on October 3, 2015, at 16:48:03
In reply to If placebo eases depression, real meds will too, posted by Tomatheus on October 3, 2015, at 15:03:19
I think the research is suggesting that a placebo response indicates that the engine is in working order, even though there might be a need for more fuel or a tune-up. Brains such a these are more apt to respond to current treatments than one that have more profound abnormalities in function or morphology.
Mostly, placebo responses are short-lived. Relapses occur within two or three months. More severely ill people tend not respond to placebo at all. This is why when a clinical trial includes only those people whose depression is measured as being severe, the difference in response rate between placebo and active substance is robust.
Placebo response does not equal response to no care. Just being under the care of doctors and the support one gets in a clinical trial might be enough for someone to feel less depressed and report feeling better.
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1083184
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20150929/msgs/1083189.html