Lecture 7 - Placebo Flashcards
What was placebo when given to a patient in the early days of medicine?
It was an ineffective substance given to the patient to humour or please the patient
What does Placebo mean literally?
“I shall please”.
What does placebo cause in health not directly due to treatments?
Measurable changes
What is meant by an Nocebo effect when thinking about placebo?
Negative placebo effects
What are the 3 typical types and effects of placebo? Explain each
Alcohol placebo - make people disinhibition
Algesic placebo - reduce pain experiences
Mood placebo - improve mental problems e.g. depression or anxiety
In terms of blinding trials, what is a single blind trial?
Participants are unaware of treatment condition
What is meant by a double blind trial?
Experimenter ANDY participant are unaware of treatment condition
What 2 things are clinical trials when thinking of placebo?
Usually placebo controlled and blind
What is meant by ‘dose response’ effects when thinking about placebo?
The more ‘serious’ the placebo intervention, the better the placebo effect. E.g. Surgery vs. pills
What is cognitive dissonance?
It is when the participant claims the expectation to try and please the experimenter. This is something you DONT want.
