A survey of physicians in 1979 found that some doctors give a placebo to patients who complain of pain for which the physician can find no cause. If the patients' pain improves, these doctors conclude that it had no physical basis. The medical researchers who conducted the survey claimed that these doctors do not understand the placebo effect. Why?

Question

ganeshie8 · Answer

what is placebo effect ?

directrix · Answer

Placebo effect: Also called the placebo response. A remarkable phenomenon in which a placebo -- a fake treatment, an inactive substance like sugar, distilled water, or saline solution -- can sometimes improve a patient's condition simply because the person has the expectation that it will be helpful. Expectation to plays a potent role in the placebo effect. The more a person believes they are going to benefit from a treatment, the more likely it is that they will experience a benefit. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=31481