Re: Re: RESEARCH - The placebo effect an its determinants in OA - meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

[Guest guest]

Doreen,

The study doesn't imply that the OA pain and stiffness isn't real,

rather that placebo treatment can be effective.

Not an MD

On Sat, Jun 14, 2008 at 8:05 AM, Mimi <mimi212@...> wrote:

>> Conclusion: Placebo is effective in the treatment of OA, especially

>> for pain, stiffness and self-reported function. The size of this

>> effect is influenced by the strength of the active treatment, the

>> baseline disease severity, the route of delivery and the sample size

>> of the study.

>

> Wow - for those who truly suffer from OsteoArthritis (a type of

> arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the

> cartilage of one or more joints), this study suggests their pain and

> stiffness isn't real. Its a sad day in the medical field when a

> study suggests someone could be faking their symptoms.

>

> The definition of Placebo according to MedicineNet.com:

>

> Placebo: A " sugar pill " or any dummy medication or treatment. For

> example, in a controlled clinical trial, one group may be given a

> real medication while another group is given a placebo that looks

> just like it in order to learn if the differences observed are due to

> the medication or to the power of suggestion. Placebos are widely

> used in drug trials.

[Guest guest]

Doreen,

Your understanding of what a placebo treatment is is correct.

In some trials of a new treatment, some patients are given the study

drug, others are given placebo, still others may be given no treatment

at all.

In many studies, patients given placebo experience improvement in

their symptoms. Especially when these patients are compared to those

who receive no treatment at all, this result is intriguing.

We don't know exactly why some people respond to placebo, but there

are many interesting theories.

Did you read this article I posted yesterday?

/message/114104

Here are a couple of others:

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7892

http://www.physorg.com/news105029324.html

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_5_3x_Placebo_Effect.asp

Not an MD

On Sat, Jun 14, 2008 at 6:42 PM, Mimi <mimi212@...> wrote:

> I understand that, but a placebo isn't a " real " treatment - there are

> no medicinal properties as they consist of either " inert " ingredients

> or are a " sugar pill " . I guess I'm not understanding how they figure

> a placebo could be beneficial in treating OA with what my

> understanding of what a placebo is.

>

> Doreen

>

>

>> >> Conclusion: Placebo is effective in the treatment of OA,

> especially

>> >> for pain, stiffness and self-reported function. The size of this

>> >> effect is influenced by the strength of the active treatment, the

>> >> baseline disease severity, the route of delivery and the sample

> size

>> >> of the study.

>> >

>> > Wow - for those who truly suffer from OsteoArthritis (a type of

>> > arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the

>> > cartilage of one or more joints), this study suggests their pain

> and

>> > stiffness isn't real. Its a sad day in the medical field when a

>> > study suggests someone could be faking their symptoms.

>> >

>> > The definition of Placebo according to MedicineNet.com:

>> >

>> > Placebo: A " sugar pill " or any dummy medication or treatment. For

>> > example, in a controlled clinical trial, one group may be given a

>> > real medication while another group is given a placebo that looks

>> > just like it in order to learn if the differences observed are

> due to

>> > the medication or to the power of suggestion. Placebos are widely

>> > used in drug trials.

>>

[Guest guest]

The mind-body connection is really amazing. I worked in nursing for many years

and have seen placebos work and also not work for different types of pain. I

think sometimes it was just the anticipation of pain relief and maybe the

relaxation that came from thinking it would work allowed the body to help

itself. I have also used Lamaze (a childbirth technique using focus and

relaxation) with post op surgery patients who could not use traditional

medications to help with pain control with success. I have used modified

versions with my kids for minor injuries with success. I know with myself

personally that relaxation and focus can play a big part in how I deal with

pain.

Mimi <mimi212@...> wrote: I understand that, but a placebo

isn't a " real " treatment - there are

no medicinal properties as they consist of either " inert " ingredients

or are a " sugar pill " . I guess I'm not understanding how they figure

a placebo could be beneficial in treating OA with what my

understanding of what a placebo is.

Doreen

> >> Conclusion: Placebo is effective in the treatment of OA,

especially

> >> for pain, stiffness and self-reported function. The size of this

> >> effect is influenced by the strength of the active treatment, the

> >> baseline disease severity, the route of delivery and the sample

size

> >> of the study.

> >

> > Wow - for those who truly suffer from OsteoArthritis (a type of

> > arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the

> > cartilage of one or more joints), this study suggests their pain

and

> > stiffness isn't real. Its a sad day in the medical field when a

> > study suggests someone could be faking their symptoms.

> >

> > The definition of Placebo according to MedicineNet.com:

> >

> > Placebo: A " sugar pill " or any dummy medication or treatment. For

> > example, in a controlled clinical trial, one group may be given a

> > real medication while another group is given a placebo that looks

> > just like it in order to learn if the differences observed are

due to

> > the medication or to the power of suggestion. Placebos are widely

> > used in drug trials.

>