Placebolotherapy

doi:10.1136/bmj.39577.534688.3A

BMJ 2008;336:1087 (17 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39577.534688.3A

Letters

Placebo effect

Placebolotherapy

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

I am thinking of setting myself up as a placebolotherapist.¹Placebolotherapy—the standard by which all other treatmentsare measured. At least as effective as all types of psychotherapyand all "alternative" healthcare treatments. Treats physicalhealth conditions and mental health problems (especially mooddisorders). Evidence based. No spurious claims or pseudoscientificexplanations. No reliance on ill defined terms such as "energy,""auras," "crystal power," or "spirituality."

Placebolotherapy is not a replacement for any proven treatment,it is an enormously helpful adjunct.

Placebolotherapists spend an hour with the "patient" in a pleasantroom, giving them their full and undivided attention. They explainthat what they are doing is backed up by rigorous scientificevidence, is extremely effective, and that the patient willfeel better afterwards.

That’s it. Cost £50 a session. Research into placeboshows that the more value the patient puts on it, the more effectiveit is (a placebo . . . [Full text of this article]

Nick J Woodhead, Mental Health Act coordination manager

¹ Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4RN

nick.woodhead@sompar.nhs.uk