There is a way in which doctors try new drugs by using in a group a pill which doesn't contain any drug at all to see how important the psycological effect is... How is thi effect called?
2006-09-19 15:00:36 · 4 answers · asked by Calíope!* 3 in Health ➔ Other - Health
THANKS!!! PLACEBO IS THE ANSWER... I'LL HAVE TO CHOOSE ONE ANSWER RANDOMLY.... SORRY!!!!!!!!
2006-09-19 15:05:29 · update #1
placebo effect
2006-09-19 15:02:37 · answer #1 · answered by psychpath64 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The effect you're referring to is called "the PLACEBO effect", and it can truly be a powerful form of therapy! This is done in "double-blind" studies, in an effort to get a more accurate and realistic "picture" of just how well a new drug may be affecting the disease or medical condition upon which it's being tested. Many years ago, on an episode of the TV series, "M.A.S.H.", the 4077 had completely run out of morphine, but the chief medical officer, (played by Henry Morgan) convinced the patients that they had something far stronger than morphine, that would allow everyone to become "pain free" in as little as twenty minutes, so they could all get a good night's sleep. What the patients didn't know, is that the tablets they were actually being given, were essentially nothing more than "sugar pills". But the power of suggestion was clearly demonstrated, when the pills "totally eliminated the pain".
In reality, it was the minds of the patients that believed the "pills" would work. Although this was only a theatrical drama, it was based upon the "placebo effect" which has been repeatedly demonstrated as being a very real phenomenon. In some cases, even cancer has been driven into remission, simply because the patients were convinced that the "medication" they were given, would be guaranteed to "do the job". This is why a good bedside manner among physicians is vitally important, as the adverse can also be true; Even a totally effective anti-cancer therapy can fail miserably, if the patient is convinced that "nothing on earth will do them any good, whatsoever". Attitude really is "half the battle" in dealing with any drug, versus any disease!
2006-09-19 15:21:43 · answer #2 · answered by Jim C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When medications are used experimentally, they are compared with placebos. I believe that is the word you are looking for.
2006-09-19 15:03:56 · answer #3 · answered by Chelle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
placebo
2006-09-19 15:03:34 · answer #4 · answered by thankgodformaryjane 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋