Incredibly, the placebo effect is (mostly) not real.
It is a result of statistical confusion. Whenever you have a group with extreme values, they tend to exhibit regression to the mean. Eg. on average, sick people tend to become more healthy over time.
Thus if you give one group medicine, and one group placebo, the placebo group will also tend to get better over time, because of regression to the mean.
People have then misinterpreted this to think that it is the placebo pill that actively does this.
If you want to demonstrate a placebo effect, you have to construct a study where there are three groups:
• A. treatment
• B. placebo
• C. no treatment, no placebo
If B and C get different outcomes, that would demonstrate a placebo effect.
When this has been tried, mainly there has been no provable placebo effect. See the paper in the screenshot. (There is some evidence for an effect for pain, but this get's into a slightly different debate.)
The fact that the placebo effect is mainly not real, fortunately frees us from having to come up with convoluted explanations, as to why the placebo effect would work even when we tell the patient that it is a placebo, as in the quoted tweet.
New paper now online led by @Dane_995 “The role of perseverative cognition (worry/rumination) in the job strain-health outcome relationship”
https://t.co/jFczVL9tBD #stress#work#health
New paper now online led by @Dane_995 “The role of perseverative cognition (worry/rumination) in the job strain-health outcome relationship”
https://t.co/jFczVL9tBD #stress#work#health
Proud day yesterday almost 4 years in the making. Beyond indebted to my supervisors, examiners, and everyone who has supported me along my PhD journey! A long way from my small town of Middlesbrough 🎉 #DrDane#PhDone#HolidayTime
Many congratulations to Dane McCarrick (@Dane_995) for passing his PhD viva with flying colours. Thanks also to examiners Profs Mark Cropley (Surrey) and Mark Conner. A fantastic thesis (examples attached). Well done Dane!
Lovely Christmas catch up with a sub-set of the @LeedsHealthPsy Research Group last night (as a result of rail strikes) & for us to sample a rather special “Christmas dinner”pizza!
I've just read this @Guardian article on the recent serotonin hypothesis of depression PET study https://t.co/XzrpbuZiep
Then I read this excellent blog by @EikoFried. You might want to do the same https://t.co/NOgVp375er #depression
Academic writing is a superpower. It's a key to publishing, getting a new job or tenure, and becoming known in the field
These 10 AI-powered websites will help you with EVERY part of your manuscript and will save you 100+ hours:
#openscience#AcademicTwitter#phdvoice#phdchat
New study led by @Dane_995: "Perseverative cognition and health behaviours: exploring the role of intentions and perceived behavioural control” #openaccess https://t.co/xaPmE8kKnL #stress#health#sleep
Do/did you have #cataracts in both eyes? Are you interested in understanding how they affect our #perception of #movement? Follow the link to learn more and participate in a new #study. Thank you! [https://t.co/6tLZsuxTpz] Plus, you may #win £30!
When Bryan Robson entered @Boro, he was determined to make them the club that every local fan wanted to support 🔴
𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐨: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, streaming now on Prime Video 📺