Comments on: Researchers recognise the power of the placebo http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2008/05/07/researchers-recognise-the-power-of-the-placebo/ A Good Look at Good Health Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:37:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Katrina http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2008/05/07/researchers-recognise-the-power-of-the-placebo/#comment-85577 Katrina Mon, 12 May 2008 09:18:42 +0000 http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2008/05/07/researchers-recognise-the-power-of-the-placebo/#comment-85577 I had a very bad appointment with one GP five years ago,I will never forget the remarks she made to me and upset me. As a result my blood pressure went up even further and I got prescribed more blood pressure tablets. At that point I decided I wasn't as irresponsible as she said and found a wonderful nutrition consultant. They have been patient, understanding and supportive. As a result I stopped beating myself up about my conditions and felt I could do even more myself to control my medical conditions. The feeling compared to that of medical professionals I have met or met since is so differnet. It gave me a remewed confidence to learn more. With understanding support I have gained a greater control of my diabetes, lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Sadly this year I have lost the opportunity I was haing over the past few years to talk to them, and lost some of my confidence. Some people need to have a strict approach to their wellbeing but as this case shows the 'placebo' approach and or the support of someone who wants to work with patients who are responisble themselves does a whole lot better than upsetting pateients and losing their trut. The only person who really knows how you are feeling with regard to symptoms and conditions is you. I wish more main steam NHS practitioners worked with patients and are prepared to listen. It makes a world of difference Thanks for your blog John. I had a very bad appointment with one GP five years ago,I will never forget the remarks she made to me and upset me. As a result my blood pressure went up even further and I got prescribed more blood pressure tablets.

At that point I decided I wasn’t as irresponsible as she said and found a wonderful nutrition consultant. They have been patient, understanding and supportive. As a result I stopped beating myself up about my conditions and felt I could do even more myself to control my medical conditions. The feeling compared to that of medical professionals I have met or met since is so differnet. It gave me a remewed confidence to learn more. With understanding support I have gained a greater control of my diabetes, lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Sadly this year I have lost the opportunity I was haing over the past few years to talk to them, and lost some of my confidence.

Some people need to have a strict approach to their wellbeing but as this case shows the ‘placebo’ approach and or the support of someone who wants to work with patients who are responisble themselves does a whole lot better than upsetting pateients and losing their trut. The only person who really knows how you are feeling with regard to symptoms and conditions is you. I wish more main steam NHS practitioners worked with patients and are prepared to listen. It makes a world of difference Thanks for your blog John.

]]> By: Nancy M. http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2008/05/07/researchers-recognise-the-power-of-the-placebo/#comment-84181 Nancy M. Thu, 08 May 2008 16:52:50 +0000 http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2008/05/07/researchers-recognise-the-power-of-the-placebo/#comment-84181 I always wonder how they figure out if there was improvement or not. Do they just give a questionnaire to the patient and say, "Do you feel better?" or do they ask for specifics like, "How many episodes of diarrhea did you have today?" If someone spends a lot of time with you and demonstrates interest in helping you, you naturally want to believe that they *did* help you. So you tend to dwell on the positives like, "Gee, I think I only had 5 trips to the bathroom today versus 7 yesterday". That might just be a daily variability in the problem someone is experiencing. In reality there is no real improvement, just a person's hope that things are better. I find this all the time in looking for cures for my own issues. I *think* that something is working over the short-term, only to find that looking longer term it really isn't. That isn't really a placebo effect, that's just "hope". I always wonder how they figure out if there was improvement or not. Do they just give a questionnaire to the patient and say, “Do you feel better?” or do they ask for specifics like, “How many episodes of diarrhea did you have today?”

If someone spends a lot of time with you and demonstrates interest in helping you, you naturally want to believe that they *did* help you. So you tend to dwell on the positives like, “Gee, I think I only had 5 trips to the bathroom today versus 7 yesterday”. That might just be a daily variability in the problem someone is experiencing. In reality there is no real improvement, just a person’s hope that things are better.

I find this all the time in looking for cures for my own issues. I *think* that something is working over the short-term, only to find that looking longer term it really isn’t. That isn’t really a placebo effect, that’s just “hope”.

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