Healing Is In The HeadHealing Is In The Head

Presented by Presented by Mili, Selma,& WesamMili, Selma,& Wesam

Mission StatementMission Statement

To inform and educate people and provide To inform and educate people and provide an overview on how placebos and placebo an overview on how placebos and placebo effects impact on clinical practice. Our effects impact on clinical practice. Our goal is to promote knowledge and benefits goal is to promote knowledge and benefits of this healing science wherever the of this healing science wherever the human race exists and the suffering human race exists and the suffering prevails. prevails.

IntroductionIntroduction The phenomenon of placebo effect is not fully The phenomenon of placebo effect is not fully

understood by science, but there has been understood by science, but there has been clinical evidence of its presence. Research clinical evidence of its presence. Research shows that the placebo effect can be greater and shows that the placebo effect can be greater and is far more ubiquitous than commonly thought. is far more ubiquitous than commonly thought.

Placebo meaning an inert treatment, given as if Placebo meaning an inert treatment, given as if it was a real treatment, means lots of different it was a real treatment, means lots of different things to different people. Rather than figuring things to different people. Rather than figuring placebo as deception, we advance the placebo as deception, we advance the hypothesis that placebo can empower patients, hypothesis that placebo can empower patients, and trigger self-healing. and trigger self-healing.

What is Placebo Effect ?What is Placebo Effect ? According to wikipedia, Placebo effect is According to wikipedia, Placebo effect is

the term applied by medical science to the term applied by medical science to the therapeutical and healing effects of the therapeutical and healing effects of inert medicines and/or ritualistic or faith inert medicines and/or ritualistic or faith healing manipulations. When referring to healing manipulations. When referring to medicines, placebo is a preparation medicines, placebo is a preparation which is pharmacologically inert but which is pharmacologically inert but which may have a therapeutical effect which may have a therapeutical effect based solely on the power of suggestion. based solely on the power of suggestion.

What is Placebo Effect What is Placebo Effect cont.cont. Video about placebo effect:Video about placebo effect: http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v

=dCt3eRJYUa0=dCt3eRJYUa0

How can it be explained?

The word placebo literally means “I will please” in Latin. A placebo is an inactive substance that has no treatment value. The placebo effect is the measurable, observable, or felt improvement in health not attributable to an actual treatment. It seems that it is the result of the patient's expectation of an effect.

Placebos have been a fake treatment, an inactive substance like sugar, distilled water, or saline solution given to people in place of real medications. The placebo effect also called placebo response occurs when a patient believes they are improving because they know they are receiving medical treatment, though no true improvement in symptoms occurs. The placebo effect is triggered by the person's belief in the treatment and their expectation of feeling better, rather than the specific form the placebo takes.

Types of PlaceboTypes of Placebo

Placebos takes many forms : It can be Placebos takes many forms : It can be inert (devoid of any action) such as a inert (devoid of any action) such as a sugar pill, active, (that actually have sugar pill, active, (that actually have actions) or orally consumed substance actions) or orally consumed substance (sometimes termed a dummy), a (sometimes termed a dummy), a procedure or a situation.procedure or a situation.

What Causes the Placebo What Causes the Placebo Effect?Effect?

It is believed that the placebo effect is It is believed that the placebo effect is psychological, due to a delusion on the part of psychological, due to a delusion on the part of the subject that the treatment will work. The the subject that the treatment will work. The patient's beliefs and expectations seem to patient's beliefs and expectations seem to have a significant biochemical effect or you have a significant biochemical effect or you can say it may invoke a "conditioned can say it may invoke a "conditioned response" as studied by Ivan Pavlov. We are response" as studied by Ivan Pavlov. We are conditioned to believe that medicine makes us conditioned to believe that medicine makes us better when we're ill, so any treatment that we better when we're ill, so any treatment that we receive may make us psychologically confirm receive may make us psychologically confirm this belief. The empathy, encouragement and this belief. The empathy, encouragement and support given by the care provider also support given by the care provider also constitute this psychological belief. constitute this psychological belief.

ExamplesExamples• One patient stands out in the memory of Stephen Straus, M.D., for her One patient stands out in the memory of Stephen Straus, M.D., for her

remarkable recovery, more than 10 years ago, from remarkable recovery, more than 10 years ago, from chronic fatigue syndrome.chronic fatigue syndrome. The woman, then in her 30s, was "very significantly impaired," says Straus, The woman, then in her 30s, was "very significantly impaired," says Straus, chief of the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation at the National Institute of chief of the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "She had no energy, couldn't work, and spent Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "She had no energy, couldn't work, and spent most of her time at home." But her strength was restored during a study to most of her time at home." But her strength was restored during a study to test the effectiveness of an experimental chronic fatigue drug. Like many drug test the effectiveness of an experimental chronic fatigue drug. Like many drug studies, the chronic fatigue medication trial was a "placebo-controlled" study, studies, the chronic fatigue medication trial was a "placebo-controlled" study, meaning that a portion of the patients took the experimental drug, while meaning that a portion of the patients took the experimental drug, while others took look-alike pills with no active ingredient, with neither researchers others took look-alike pills with no active ingredient, with neither researchers nor patients knowing which patients were getting which. She and her parents nor patients knowing which patients were getting which. She and her parents were so thrilled with her recovery that they were blessing Stephen Straus and were so thrilled with her recovery that they were blessing Stephen Straus and his colleagues. his colleagues.

• Just recently one of my peer Amber participated in a sleep study. Everyone Just recently one of my peer Amber participated in a sleep study. Everyone who participated in the study was unknowingly divided into two main groups. who participated in the study was unknowingly divided into two main groups. The group she was in took placebo pills or sugar pills. The other group took The group she was in took placebo pills or sugar pills. The other group took the drug being tested. She took the pill for two weeks and was amazed at how the drug being tested. She took the pill for two weeks and was amazed at how much better she was sleeping at night. Little did she know that her pill was a much better she was sleeping at night. Little did she know that her pill was a fraud! fraud!

• A study in England was done where 100 men were told that they were taking A study in England was done where 100 men were told that they were taking chemotherapy, when in actuality they were taking inactive saline solution. chemotherapy, when in actuality they were taking inactive saline solution. 20% of these men lost their hair, demonstrating the power of the belief of 20% of these men lost their hair, demonstrating the power of the belief of effects of the treatment.effects of the treatment.

Positive Effects

Placebos may lack actual chemical functioning, but it has been documented that 30-40% of patients experience the positive effects of placebo.Placebos have been known to treat angina pectoris, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders, reflux oesophagitis, asthma, allergies, flu symptoms, sleep disorders, sea sickness, and nocturnal enuresis (Weihrauch, Gauler, 1999). Treating pain and affective disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, mania, and anxiety disorders are areas where placebos seem to have the greatest effect. One of the positive effects of placebo is the effect of expectation. People who expect to get better have a better chance of actually getting better than those who don't.

Negative EffectsNegative Effects It should also be noted that the effects of It should also be noted that the effects of

Placebo are not always positive. Placebos in Placebo are not always positive. Placebos in many patients have been linked to side effects, many patients have been linked to side effects, some of which are severe fainting spells and some of which are severe fainting spells and cardiac dysfunction cardiac dysfunction Wiehrauch, Gauler,1999). Wiehrauch, Gauler,1999).

Some consider that the cures due to the placebo Some consider that the cures due to the placebo effect perpetuate the use of ineffective and effect perpetuate the use of ineffective and irrational medicinal therapeutic procedures, as irrational medicinal therapeutic procedures, as those used in the so-called "alternative those used in the so-called "alternative medicine".medicine".

Why people use alternative Why people use alternative medicine?medicine?

People like to use alternative medicine because of People like to use alternative medicine because of various reasons. Conventional medicine is not always various reasons. Conventional medicine is not always perfect and it can have many side effects. In regards to perfect and it can have many side effects. In regards to that, a lot of people don’t trust conventional medicine that, a lot of people don’t trust conventional medicine and instead use alternative medicine. Another likely and instead use alternative medicine. Another likely reason why people might want to use alternative reason why people might want to use alternative medicine is because it matches their culture or beliefs. medicine is because it matches their culture or beliefs. Many people hold new-age ideas and philosophies. Many people hold new-age ideas and philosophies. They believe that alternative medicine is more of a They believe that alternative medicine is more of a natural kind of healing and believe that everything natural kind of healing and believe that everything “natural” is somehow better for us. “natural” is somehow better for us.

Is prescribing placebos ethical or Is prescribing placebos ethical or unethical? unethical?

Prescribing placebos can either be ethical or unethical. Prescribing placebos can either be ethical or unethical. It can be considered ethical because it actually makes the patient It can be considered ethical because it actually makes the patient

think that it’s helpful. Patients are led into believing that the think that it’s helpful. Patients are led into believing that the healing process has started and they automatically develop a healing process has started and they automatically develop a healthier or happier feeling which ultimately causes the patient to healthier or happier feeling which ultimately causes the patient to truly feel that way. It is a very effective mind-game that certainly truly feel that way. It is a very effective mind-game that certainly could help many people get over certain sickness or feelings. At could help many people get over certain sickness or feelings. At the same time, placebos do not contain any ingredients that could the same time, placebos do not contain any ingredients that could possibly cause any side-effects, unlike real prescription. Another possibly cause any side-effects, unlike real prescription. Another reason why prescribing placebos can be ethical is because not reason why prescribing placebos can be ethical is because not only does it make the patient think mentally that it helps, but also only does it make the patient think mentally that it helps, but also because doctors can use these treatments to study the human because doctors can use these treatments to study the human mind and its effectiveness. Prescribing placebos can help doctors mind and its effectiveness. Prescribing placebos can help doctors and scientists learn more about the human mind and use it. and scientists learn more about the human mind and use it. However, prescribing placebos can also be unethical in life-However, prescribing placebos can also be unethical in life-threatening or serious situations. threatening or serious situations.

Conclusion • Sometimes we no longer know what is true for us, in which

direction our own integrity lies; coming to recognize and accept that we have in us both sides of everything. We are capable of fear and courage, generosity and selfishness, vulnerability and strength. These things do not cancel each other out but offer us a full range of power and response to life “Healing is in the Head”. We cannot deny the fact that placebos have shown, it can provide the clearest insight into what a treatment can accomplish, the use of placebos have often lead to substantial improvement.

• Rather than accepting placebo as a deception, we advance the speculation that placebo can empower patients, and trigger self-healing, an additional reason why prescribing placebos can be ethical is because not only does it make the patient think mentally that it helps, but also it can also be viewed as a source of insight into mental health.

Contact InformationContact InformationThe Tampa Clinic The Tampa Clinic 1265 W. Fowler Ave.1265 W. Fowler Ave.Tampa, Fl 33620Tampa, Fl 33620Phone (813) 748-2556 Phone (813) 748-2556