Special effects of placebo

Scientists from Harvard Medical School (USA) have discovered that placebo can help patients feel better even if they know well that they are just sugar pills.

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According to Reuters news agency, scientists have studied 80 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with characteristic symptoms of abdominal pain. These volunteers are divided into two groups.

The first group was not treated with any drug , the second group was treated with placebo tablets twice a day and lasted for 3 weeks. The patients were all told that these were just placebo pills.

Results after 3 weeks of the trial showed that nearly 60% of patients with irritable bowel syndrome participated in the study reported that they felt better after taking placebo twice a day, compared with 35% of patients. in the group of patients not treated with any drug.

" We not only printed the messages on the drug shell but also directly told the patients, these are just placebo tablets. However, the research results show that placebo drugs work even when the patient knows. about their true use , 'said Dr. Ted Kaptchuk, head of the study.

The placebo effect has been applied since medicine began. A placebo is important for the study of new drugs or treatments. But before, most people thought that a placebo tablet would not work if the patient knew it was a placebo.

Professor Ted Kaptchuk said: 'The results also confirm that placebo is more effective than previously thought '.