Letters
Placebos in medicine
BMJ 2004; 330 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.330.7481.45-a (Published 30 December 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;330:45Medical paradoxes need disentangling
- Zelda Di Blasi, postdoctoral fellow (DiBlasi@ocim.ucsf.edu),
- David Reilly, consultant physician
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Centre for Integrative Care, Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital, Glasgow
EDITOR—As Spiegel's editorial highlights,1 paradoxes around the placebo effect can be overcome by distinguishing between a dummy pill and the effects of thoughts, feelings, and human relationships.2
Placebos may seem like a less toxic solution than pharmacological treatments for functional or chronic conditions but this carries side effects—disrupt trust, and …
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