Roaming through methodology. XVII. the placebo effect
De Craen, A.J.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 144(7): 322-324
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 10707743 Document Number: 517933
The placebo effect is well known, but there are many misconceptions. One of these misconceptions is that one-third of patients respond to placebos. This misunderstanding is probably due to methodologically poor research conducted in the 1950s. Another error is that the effect in the placebo arm of a clinical trial is often confused with the placebo effect. The belief in the placebo effect is enormous, but the quantity and quality of data to substantiate this belief are very limited. Investigating the placebo effect is methodologically difficult, not easy to get financed and considered unrewarding.