Does the placebo effect affect someone that is aware of it? For example, if someone gives me a placebo pill and say it will help with acid reflux and then tells me its a placebo, will it still have an effect and reduce my acid reflux or will nothing happen?
2007-10-02 16:49:35 · 5 answers · asked by Johnny Ben 1 in Health ➔ Mental Health
Ok, a details I left out. Will the placebo effect happen if I am 100% sure the drug is a placebo? There is no doubt in my mind that the drug is not a placebo.
2007-10-02 16:59:43 · update #1
srry, i meant no doubt it is a placbo
2007-10-02 17:00:11 · update #2
Only if you truly believe them. If your friend just out of nowhere said the pill is a placebo, while the doctor prescribed it to you, says it's going to have physciological effects, then the placebo effect would still occur. The placebo effect is purely psychological, which in turns effect the physical.
2007-10-02 16:54:53 · answer #1 · answered by jayguy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Knowing that a pill is a placebo would defeat the placebo effect. It's the positive thought that a pill will help that causes the effect.
2007-10-02 16:59:36 · answer #2 · answered by NMFlamingo 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you know it's a placebo, it won't work. Placebo effect is predicated on you believing that is something that will do something. If you believe a real medicine is a placebo, you can defeat the med's purpose, too (depending on the medication). The mind is a powerful thing.
2007-10-02 17:08:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
That would vary from person to person. That's the nature of a placebo. Who cares why it works if it works? It's all about belief versus results. Good luck!
2007-10-02 17:02:56 · answer #4 · answered by Jack 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it can if you really believe it will help
2007-10-02 16:55:20 · answer #5 · answered by goASKalice 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋