The Science of Placebo: Toward on interdisciplinary research agenda - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0727915940 ISBN 13: 9780727915948

Publisher: BMJ Books, 2010

Synopsis

Science of the Placebo: Toward an Interdisciplinary Research Agenda

Based on a meeting in November 2000, this book brings together researchers from a wide range of disciplines to examine the biological, behavioral, social, cultural and ethical aspects related to the placebo effect. Perspectives on the necessity for including a placebo in randomized clinical trials will also be examined.

This is the first attempt to examine the evidence-base of the placebo effect and will provide important information for clinicians.

About this title

About the Author

Harry Guess is the editor of Science of the Placebo: Toward an Interdisciplinary Research Agenda, published by Wiley.

Linda Engel is the editor of Science of the Placebo: Toward an Interdisciplinary Research Agenda, published by Wiley.

Arthur Kleinman is the editor of Science of the Placebo: Toward an Interdisciplinary Research Agenda, published by Wiley.

John Kusek is the editor of Science of the Placebo: Toward an Interdisciplinary Research Agenda, published by Wiley.

From the Back Cover

Do placebos work? For many conditions, you bet they do! Maybe in some people most of the time; maybe even in all people some of the time. Those are among the conclusions that experts drew from a comprehensive review of placebo effects that took place at the National Institutes of Health. The meeting, designed to bring basic biomedical and behavioral scientists together with clinicians and clinical trial experts, developed an expanded concept of the placebo, explored a variety of explanatory mechanisms of why placebos work when they work, and discussed the pros and cons of using placebos in clinical trials. The experts went on to develop a research agenda to further progress in the field.

The result is a new look at placebos, one that calls for careful consideration of the complex ethical issues involved in exploiting placebo effects, but sees their potential as therapeutic allies in clinical practice.

The chapters serve as an essential practical and theoretical guide to practitioners, researchers, bioethicists, patients, and students who want a comprehensive review of the state of placebo science and placebo-controlled clinical trials. They include:

• The historical context and ethical perspectives
• Explanatory psychosocial and physiological mechanisms (for example, social and cultural meanings, classic conditioning, social learning, intervening psychophysiology)
• The need to distinguish placebo effects from biological and statistical artifacts
• Issues concerning the use of placebo groups in clinical trials: ethics, methodological issues, pros, cons, and alternatives
• Priorities for future research

The publication of this book has important implications for clinical medicine, making it essential reading for clinical researchers, basic scientists and health care practitioners.

From the Inside Flap

Do placebos work? For many conditions, you bet they do! Maybe in some people most of the time; maybe even in all people some of the time. Those are among the conclusions that experts drew from a comprehensive review of placebo effects that took place at the National Institutes of Health. The meeting, designed to bring basic biomedical and behavioral scientists together with clinicians and clinical trial experts, developed an expanded concept of the placebo, explored a variety of explanatory mechanisms of why placebos work when they work, and discussed the pros and cons of using placebos in clinical trials. The experts went on to develop a research agenda to further progress in the field.

The result is a new look at placebos, one that calls for careful consideration of the complex ethical issues involved in exploiting placebo effects, but sees their potential as therapeutic allies in clinical practice.

The chapters serve as an essential practical and theoretical guide to practitioners, researchers, bioethicists, patients, and students who want a comprehensive review of the state of placebo science and placebo-controlled clinical trials. They include:

• 
  
• The historical context and ethical perspectives
• 
  
• Explanatory psychosocial and physiological mechanisms (for example, social and cultural meanings, classic conditioning, social learning, intervening psychophysiology)
• 
  
• The need to distinguish placebo effects from biological and statistical artifacts
• 
  
• Issues concerning the use of placebo groups in clinical trials: ethics, methodological issues, pros, cons, and alternatives
• 
  
• Priorities for future research

The publication of this book has important implications for clinical medicine, making it essential reading for clinical researchers, basic scientists and health care practitioners.

Edition details

• Publisher: BMJ Books
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0727915940
• ISBN 13: 9780727915948
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 346
• Editor: Guess Harry A.