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Understanding the Placebo Effect

The document discusses the placebo effect, defining it as a sham treatment that can lead to real health improvements. It outlines the use of placebos in clinical trials, their effectiveness, and potential causes, including psychological factors. The document also highlights the ethical debate surrounding the use of placebos in medical practice.

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philongle2007
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8 views2 pages

Understanding the Placebo Effect

The document discusses the placebo effect, defining it as a sham treatment that can lead to real health improvements. It outlines the use of placebos in clinical trials, their effectiveness, and potential causes, including psychological factors. The document also highlights the ethical debate surrounding the use of placebos in medical practice.

Uploaded by

philongle2007
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

​ CHAPTER 5: PLACEBO EFFECT

A.​Listen to the lecture practice. Make the outline and write a summary

B. Listen to the lecture and fill in each blank with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS:

Topic: The Placebo Effect

1.​ Definition of Placebo:


○​ A placebo is a (1) ………………………………… or sham medical treatment.
○​ Examples include (2) ………………………………… pills, fake therapies, or surgeries
without active medical (3) …………………………………
2.​ Definition of the Placebo Effect:
○​ The (4) ………………………………… or improvement in health due to taking a placebo,
not actual medicine.
○​ Historically used by (5) ………………………………… for aches and pains and other
minor (6) …………………………………
3.​ Current Use of Placebos:
○​ Placebos are used in (7) ………………………………… to compare the effects of new
drugs or treatments.
○​ In blind trials, one group gets the (8) …………………………………, and another gets a
placebo without knowing which is which.
○​ In double-blind trials, even researchers don't know who gets the placebo to prevent (9)
…………………………………
4.​ Effectiveness of Placebos:
○​ Placebos show (10) ………………………………… in 30-40% of cases in clinical trials,
sometimes even 70%.
○​ Patients often improve due to the belief that they are receiving real treatment.
5.​ Possible Causes of the Placebo Effect:
○​ (11) ………………………………… of illness or injury.
○​ Psychological factors: Expectation of improvement can lead to actual (12)
…………………………………
○​ Therapeutic effect of the treatment process itself.
○​ Empirical evidence shows actual (13) …………………………………, such as increased
(14) ………………………………… in patients responding to placebos.
6.​ Significance and Ethical Debate:
○​ Placebos can lead to real improvements with (15) ………………………………….
○​ Debate in the medical community about whether doctors should (16)
…………………………………
○​ Ethical concerns about (17) ………………………………… in prescribing placebos.

The lecture concludes by prompting discussion on the ethical implications of using placebos in
medical practice.

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