Placebo Effect
Outline
Thesis: In order to illustrate a scientific contemporary phenomenon such as a Placebo effect, a methodic itinerary must be abode by.
I. General overview
II. Mechanism of the Effect
III. Clinical Utility
IV. Symptoms, Conditions and Consequences
In our twenty first century, various remedial methods and mechanisms are presented due to the evolution of paramedical science. The healing process of the body works together with the mind. Hence, the treatment process has two dimensions; specific such as placebos and general like psychotherapies (Sheets-Johnstone, 1992, 69). Placebos are used everywhere, and backed up by a psychological tool: the Placebo Effect. A Placebo Effect is based on the illusion of pain relief or recovery created in an ill person’s mind. Nowadays, the field of placebo effect has made an important progress and has become a major focus of discussions. Through the years and all the way back to the first decades, people experienced and relied on placebo effects with or without even noticing, such as the ultimate mechanism of all: the remedy when there’s no healer. The advantage of a placebo effect lies not in the healing powers of the medication itself, but in one’s virtual perceptions and behavior towards that ordinary fictitious-power pill (Wager, 2005, August, 175). This procedure has been more and more studied and implemented, for it creates an optimistic view in the patient’s mind, ignoring therefore any negative stimulus such as physical pain or moral disturbance.
These effects and consequences made the studied subjects among the most important phenomena of modern neurophysiological science. In order to illustrate a scientific contemporary phenomenon such as a Placebo effect, a methodic itinerary must be abode by.
The mechanism of a placebo effect is an essential step towards revealing its healing power’s mystery. Scientists hypothesized in many ways that placebo effect takes place when ‘minding the body’
Thesis: In order to illustrate a scientific contemporary phenomenon such as a Placebo effect, a methodic itinerary must be abode by.
I. General overview
II. Mechanism of the Effect
III. Clinical Utility
IV. Symptoms, Conditions and Consequences
In our twenty first century, various remedial methods and mechanisms are presented due to the evolution of paramedical science. The healing process of the body works together with the mind. Hence, the treatment process has two dimensions; specific such as placebos and general like psychotherapies (Sheets-Johnstone, 1992, 69). Placebos are used everywhere, and backed up by a psychological tool: the Placebo Effect. A Placebo Effect is based on the illusion of pain relief or recovery created in an ill person’s mind. Nowadays, the field of placebo effect has made an important progress and has become a major focus of discussions. Through the years and all the way back to the first decades, people experienced and relied on placebo effects with or without even noticing, such as the ultimate mechanism of all: the remedy when there’s no healer. The advantage of a placebo effect lies not in the healing powers of the medication itself, but in one’s virtual perceptions and behavior towards that ordinary fictitious-power pill (Wager, 2005, August, 175). This procedure has been more and more studied and implemented, for it creates an optimistic view in the patient’s mind, ignoring therefore any negative stimulus such as physical pain or moral disturbance.
These effects and consequences made the studied subjects among the most important phenomena of modern neurophysiological science. In order to illustrate a scientific contemporary phenomenon such as a Placebo effect, a methodic itinerary must be abode by.
The mechanism of a placebo effect is an essential step towards revealing its healing power’s mystery. Scientists hypothesized in many ways that placebo effect takes place when ‘minding the body’
References: Montgomery, G. & Kirsch, I. (1996, May). Mechanisms of Placebo Pain Reduction: An Empirical Investigation. Association for Psychological Science. Vol 7(Nr.3); Pg 174 Sheets-Johnstone, M. (Ed). (1992). Giving the Body Its Due. USA: State University of New York Press Wager, T.D. (2005, August). The Neural Bases of Placebo Effects in Pain. Current Directions in Psychological Science. Vol.14 (Nr.4); Pg 175