The placebo effect; How does it work? Could it be used to enhance osteopathic treatment and should it?
Item
- Title
- The placebo effect; How does it work? Could it be used to enhance osteopathic treatment and should it?
- Title
- The placebo effect; How does it work? Could it be used to enhance osteopathic treatment and should it?
- Author(s)
- Sinclair Margaret
- Abstract
- Background The placebo effect is an often ill-defined term. The healing properties of seemingly inert treatments may have the potential to be enhanced to increase treatment response. Objectives This review assessed the biological and psychological mechanisms of placebo, the potential relevance of the placebo effect to osteopathy and the ethical implications of manipulation of the placebo effect. Method A computerised literature search was conducted. The search revealed 154 papers of interest, 92 of which were not relevant to the study. The remaining papers were evaluated by Van Tulder (2009) for the 9 RCT’s, and Greenhalgh (1997) for the 9 systematic reviews, 33 narrative reviews and 11 methodological papers. 33 were of high standard. Results Patient expectation and conditioning were found to be involved in eliciting and enhancing a placebo effect. Expectation was important when dealing with pain and depression (linked with opioid production), conditioning was required to produce hormones, e.g. growth hormone.PET and fMRI scans have linked placebo effect with opioid transmission and areas used in the body’s homeostasis mechanisms. Factors shown to enhance the placebo effect within the treatment include, positive expectations of practitioner and patient, positive consultations and encouraging patient responsibility for their treatment. Conclusions: This paper showed there are definite key points, easily incorporated into osteopathic treatment to enhance the treatment and potentially provide better, faster results. Including these points into treatments should be done ethically and carefully, continuously assessing interactions with patients, keeping consultations positive, ensuring that patients’ expectations match those of practitioners and are as positive as possible. The relationship with the patient is key, as trust and understanding are fundamental to ensuring the most effective treatment possible.
- Abstract
- Background The placebo effect is an often ill-defined term. The healing properties of seemingly inert treatments may have the potential to be enhanced to increase treatment response. Objectives This review assessed the biological and psychological mechanisms of placebo, the potential relevance of the placebo effect to osteopathy and the ethical implications of manipulation of the placebo effect. Method A computerised literature search was conducted. The search revealed 154 papers of interest, 92 of which were not relevant to the study. The remaining papers were evaluated by Van Tulder (2009) for the 9 RCT’s, and Greenhalgh (1997) for the 9 systematic reviews, 33 narrative reviews and 11 methodological papers. 33 were of high standard. Results Patient expectation and conditioning were found to be involved in eliciting and enhancing a placebo effect. Expectation was important when dealing with pain and depression (linked with opioid production), conditioning was required to produce hormones, e.g. growth hormone.PET and fMRI scans have linked placebo effect with opioid transmission and areas used in the body’s homeostasis mechanisms. Factors shown to enhance the placebo effect within the treatment include, positive expectations of practitioner and patient, positive consultations and encouraging patient responsibility for their treatment. Conclusions: This paper showed there are definite key points, easily incorporated into osteopathic treatment to enhance the treatment and potentially provide better, faster results. Including these points into treatments should be done ethically and carefully, continuously assessing interactions with patients, keeping consultations positive, ensuring that patients’ expectations match those of practitioners and are as positive as possible. The relationship with the patient is key, as trust and understanding are fundamental to ensuring the most effective treatment possible.
- presented at
- British School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2011
- Date Submitted
- 3.2.2012 00:00:00
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Pub-Identifier
- 15104
- Inst-Identifier
- 780
- Keywords
- Placebo effect, Meaning Response, Osteopathy, Ethics, Manual Therapy. Positive
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Sinclair Margaret, “The placebo effect; How does it work? Could it be used to enhance osteopathic treatment and should it?”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 2, 2025, https://www.osteopathic-research.com/s/orw/item/1736