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Asked by to Amy, Anita, Daryl, Nimesh, Sandra on 25 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
Question: How does the placebo effect work?
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Anita Thomas answered on 25 Jun 2014:
The placebo effect occurs when we can’t account for why a sugar pill (or equiv) appears to have a positive effect. Usually the patient and the Dr/nurse doesn’t know if the pill given is the drug being tested or the control tablet.
It seems to be a mind-over-matter thing. If you want to see an effect, you will!!! Never ever underestimate the power of the human mind!
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Amy Monaghan answered on 25 Jun 2014:
The placebo effect is about the power of the mind to influence the body. If someone takes a pill (real or sugar) and experiences a sense of improvement or well being, then this is the placebo effect.
What is interesting is that rather than just being a psychological, the placebo effect can actually enact physical changes in your body. Scientists still aren’t completely certain how this works, but one very well researched example is in pain. Some people can have dental work done without pain if they are given a placebo that they think is anaesthetic! It is not recommended that dentists do this, but there is some signal or neurotransmitter released in the brain and nervous system which dulls the response to pain neurons in response to the placebo.
It’s a great question and I’m going to spend my lunch learning some more about it!
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Daryl Jones answered on 26 Jun 2014:
Hi hannahgrimes
Yes, Amy and Anita are correct, it’s the intervention of the mind on the body/illness. The mind can be a powerful thing!! If we believe we are going to sleep better because we take a pill, then chances are that we will sleep better!
There is also a thing called the “nocebo” effect. Which means that if a patient believes a pill will make them worse, it usually does!!
Pretty cool!
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hannahgrimes commented on :
Thank you!