Placebo is Good!

Why we care to care for patients

In April, Kaptchuk et al [1] published a paper on the benefits of placebo effects for irritable bowel syndrome. Been friendly, listening to the patient, using empathy, using silence and communicating confidence and positive hope are beneficial. They have shown that 37% of patients improved after a placebo acupuncture intervention which included these previous components whereas they were only 20% with only the placebo acupuncture intervention and 3% of those on the waiting list.

This randomised clinical trial shows to what point the psychological components of care are important in improving results for functional disorders.

1. Kaptchuk TJ, Kelley JM, Conboy LA, Davis RB, Kerr CE, Jacobson EE, Kirsch I, Schyner RN, Nam BH, Nguyen LT, Park M, Rivers AL, McManus C, Kokkotou E, Drossman DA, Goldman P, Lembo AJ. Components of placebo effect: randomised controlled trial in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. BMJ. 2008 Apr 3