Posted by bleauberry on August 13, 2008, at 19:13:45
In reply to Placebo in Psychiatric Clinical Trials, posted by SLS on August 13, 2008, at 7:40:34
A %: Were about to spontaneously improve anyway. It coincidentally happened at that time.
B %: Got a brain jolt from the excitement of talking with the researchers and going through the whole process and anticipation. It's a big deal, lots of attention and care, got a nice adrenaline boost in it all.
C %: The power of the mind. A true placebo response.
D %: Started sleeping better, eating better, not worrying so much, more energy, now relieved that they are involved in something with hope and promise. So the scores relating to those specific questions on the DSM questionnaire improved to a point that showed a significant overall DSM total score reduction. But, hidden by statistics is that on the other DSM questions about depressed mood and lack of interest in pleasure, they were still severely depressed. The other improved scores relating to sleep, energy, and eating overshadowed that and made it appear falsely that they had improved.
E %: Human error. As smart as we think we are, we do not do anything perfect.
F% : Hidden human subjectivity, politics or economics.
poster:bleauberry
thread:845869
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080805/msgs/846017.html