The placebo effect

Ben Goldacre, doctor and author of Bad Science, explains what the placebo effect is and describes its role in medical research and in the pharmaceutical industry.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Placebo
• Ben Goldacre
• medical research
• sugar pills
• fake treatments

[robertwc82]

perhaps we have underestimated the amazing power of refined sugar.

[billygutter01]

I've often wondered so much money gets spent on non-curative pseudo-science like homeopathy, when real gains could be made by better understanding and, eventually, harnessing the placebo effect.

I'm glad that this is actually being done!

It's like finding out you didn't waste your coin at the wishing well.

[themongru]

@SoulZuesFtw Yes, I believe it can and has worked for cancer treatment.

[TaoPiet]

@robertwc82 No, we underestimated ourselves and overestimated the 'holy' doctor.

[SoulZuesFtw]

can this work on cancer?

[PLACEBOgarbage]

special needs video brought me here = )

[thedeeliciousplum]

@WhelkDoctor1 Hi, I thought about what you shared. Your observations are not unreasonable. Yet and may I add that Dr. Goldacre does provide one accessible means of the numerous means for our species to explore of the items that he passionately and compassionately shares of. Had I a more masterful grasp of the Natural Sciences, I may opt for reading of and exploring the published literature of thingies like the placebo effect. Mind you, I am not contesting your comment, just trying to add to it.

[thedeeliciousplum]

Thank you so much for sharing this Ben Goldacre talk on the placebo effect. It is often that I am presented with questionable pseudoscience based explanations of "healing". Our species may not be in possession of a complete and a thorough knowledge of the placebo effect, yet it is the most reasonable explanation for the biological mechanisms that promote the lessening of pains, of discomforts and of the various symptoms of numerous ailments and such. Thank you.

[blenderpanzi]

@dudepal187 As he said through the people around them who somehow signal the animals that they expect them to get better. Maybe it's just that the humans are more happy and thus the animal is more happy and heals faster or something like this.

[soniclovesamygirl]

when he keeps mentioning sugar, I keep imagining L freaking out over the sugar

[dudepal187]

How do animals experience the placebo effect?

[Chr0nalis]

@youxknowxyouxluvxit

it's called 'nocebo' effect