We all know placebo
treatment can significantly influence subjective symptoms. But does that mean you have to decive a
patient for it too work?
No! conclude the study,
Placebos without Deception: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Irritable Bowel Syndrome However, it is widely believed
Open-label placebo (non deceptive
and non-concealed administration) is superior to a no-treatment control when
offered with matched interactions in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
A three week trial of 80
patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, (70 percent female, mean age 47 +/-
18) were randomized into two groups. The
patients were diagnosed ith IBS
diagnosed by Rome III criteria and with a score
$150 on the IBS Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS).
One group were given open-label
placebo pills. The other group no-treatment controls but each group received
the same quality of interaction with providers.
Previous studies have shown
"placebo pills made of an inert substance, like sugar pills, that have been shown in clinical
studies to produce significant improvement in IBS symptoms through mind-body
self healing processes’’
Open-label placebo's
produced significantly higher mean (+/-SD) global improvement scores (IBS-GIS) at both 11-day midpoint (5.2
+/-1.0 vs. 4.0+/-1.1, p,.001) and at 21-day endpoint (5.0+/-1.5 vs. 3.9 +/-1.3,
p = .002).
Significant results were
also observed at both time points for reduced symptom severity (IBS-SSS, p =
.008 and p = .03) and adequate relief (IBS-AR, p = .02 and p = .03); nd a trend
favoring open-label placebo was observed for quality of life (IBS-QoL) at the
21-day endpoint (p = .08).
So while more research need
be done, placebos administered without deception
may be an effective
treatment for IBS and perhaps other conditions.
Matbem just maybe, doctors
may benefit patients using placebos consistent with informed consent.
Reference: Kaptchuk TJ, Friedlander E, Kelley JM,
Sanchez MN, Kokkotou E, et al.(2010) Placebos without
Deception: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Irritable
Bowel
Syndrome. PLoS ONE 5(12): e15591. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0015591
PLoS
ONE | www.plosone.org 1 December 2010 | Volume 5 | Issue 12 | e15591
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