Friday, July 3, 2009

Report on our placebo survey

PLACEBO EFFECT

A placebo is a sham medical intervention, such as a pill or even an operation, intended to make patients believe it will help. If someone thinks something will make them better, it sometimes does a phenomenon known as "the placebo effect".

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Placebos are associated with the release of natural painkillers in the brain, including dopamine. Taking a placebo creates a "self-reinforcing feedback loop" in the brain: during pain an individual recalls having taken the placebo and reduced pain reinforces its status as a painkiller. About one-in-three people appear susceptible to placebo effects.


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