Doctors designed by Simon Child from the Noun Project

Placebo

Anything that seems to be a real medical treatment, but isn’t.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/what-is-the-placebo-effect Candy designed by Julia Soderberg from the Noun Project

Source: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/what-is-the-placebo-effect Image designed by Luis Prado from the Noun Project

Placebo EffectPeople can have a positive or negative response to a fake treatment.

Positive Placebo EffectYour symptoms improve

Image designed Arjun Mahanti from the Noun ProjectSource: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/what-is-the-placebo-effect

Negative Placebo EffectYou experience side effects

Image designed Adam Mullin from the Noun ProjectSource: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/what-is-the-placebo-effect

Placebo Effect

The change produced by the treatment.

Source: http://programinplacebostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2013-lessons-learned2.pdf

Image designed by Juan Pavlo Bravo from the Noun Project

The Placebo Effect is the Placebo Response minus any changes that would have occurred without the treatment.

Example: 30 days after taking a fake treatment for the common cold, the Placebo Response will be close to 100%; there will be no Placebo Effect.

Image designed by DonBLC123 from the Noun Project

Source: http://programinplacebostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2013-lessons-learned2.pdf

Source: http://programinplacebostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2013-lessons-learned2.pdf

Some conditions are subject to the Placebo Effect, but others are not.

Image designed by Andrew Nolte from the Noun Project

Source: http://programinplacebostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2013-lessons-learned2.pdf

Significant Placebo Effecthas been observed:- Depression- Irritable bowel syndrome

Image designed by Luis Prado from the Noun Project

Source: http://programinplacebostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2013-lessons-learned2.pdf

Significant Placebo Effect has not been observed:- Infertility- Bacterial infections- Hyperglycemia- Common cold- Marital discord- Hurricanes*

Image designed by Gilad Fried from the Noun Project

* Just checking if you are paying attention

The Placebo Effect is more than just a conditioned response.

(Pavlov’s dog does not explain this effect.)

Image designed by Norman Ying from the Noun ProjectSource: http://programinplacebostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2013-lessons-learned2.pdf

Source: http://programinplacebostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2013-lessons-learned2.pdf

“Until recently, the history of medical treatment is essentially the history of the Placebo Effect.”

- Bloodletting- Crocodile dung- Pig’s teeth- Powdered stone

Image designed by Simon Child from the Noun Project

Want to increase the Placebo Effect?

Image designed by Mister Pixel from the Noun Project

“Spend more time with patients and take more careforming a therapeutic alliance.”

Image designed by Daniel Behrends from the Noun ProjectSource: http://programinplacebostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2013-lessons-learned2.pdf

“The more care people got – even if it was fake – the better they tended to fare.”

Source: http://harvardmagazine.com/2013/01/the-placebo-phenomenon Image designed by Luis Prado from the Noun Project

Source: http://harvardmagazine.com/2013/01/the-placebo-phenomenon

Tell people that they are receiving a placebo, but also explain that placebos often have healing effects.

Image designed by Fernando Rojas Braga from the Noun Project

Source: http://harvardmagazine.com/2013/01/the-placebo-phenomenon

“Even patients who knew they were getting placebos described real improvement, reporting twice as much symptom relief as the no-treatment group.”

Image designed by Scott Lewis from the Noun Project

Source: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/04/when-a-placebo-might-be-the-best-drug/index.htm

“A doctor’s verbal cues may trigger patient expectations that can alter symptoms for better or worse.”

Image designed by Hakin Yalcin from the Noun Project

“The identification of a patient’s problem along with an upbeat prognosis can be enough to prompt a Placebo Effect.”

Image designed by Simon Child from the Noun ProjectSource: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/04/when-a-placebo-might-be-the-best-drug/index.htm

There are limits, or at least we think there are…

“It’s unreasonable to think a placebo treatment will shrink a tumor, but we know it can relieve nausea and pain.”

Image designed by Juan Pablo Bravo from the Noun ProjectSource: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/04/when-a-placebo-might-be-the-best-drug/index.htm

Image designed by Martin Hanzl from the Noun Project

Created by ghostwriter Bruce Kasanoff. To learn more, visit Kasanoff.com.