Placebo effect in psychology

 

Placebo Effect 2023 by
Geoffrey W. Sutton & Bing AI

The placebo effect is an improvement in one’s condition falsely attributed to a treatment that has no known positive effect on the condition. Beneficial effects attributed to placebos are likely due to expectations.

 Example: Placebo effect

In a clinical trial of a medication to treat pain. Group A receives a pain medication and group B receives a similarly looking pill that has no pain-relieving properties. Any beneficial relief reported by group B would be considered a placebo effect.

Research example

 In 2023, an Australian team studied the use of pain medication (opioids) versus a sugar tablet placebo. The "researchers found there was no difference in pain severity after six weeks between those who received opioids versus a placebo sugar pill."

 "It was quite a surprise to us," says Andrew McLachlan, dean of pharmacy at the Sydney Pharmacy School and an author on the study, which was published Wednesday in The Lancet. "We thought there would be some pain relief, but overall there was no difference."

(See Stone, 2023, June 28)

Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

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Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation.