Wed Oct 24, 2012, 07:19 AM

xchrom (90,641 posts)

Placebo effect may be 'down to genes'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20042128

Placebo acupuncture looks real, but the needles don't go into the body

Why some people respond to treatments that have no active ingredients in them may be down to their genes, a study in the journal PLoS ONE suggests.

The so-called "placebo effect" was examined in 104 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the US.

Those with a particular version of the COMT gene saw an improvement in their health after placebo acupuncture.

The scientists warn that while they hope their findings will be seen in other conditions, more work is needed.

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9 replies	Author	Time	Post
Placebo effect may be 'down to genes' (Original post)	xchrom	Oct 2012	OP
I don't see why this is mysterious.	bemildred	Oct 2012	#1
Not surprised about this.	longship	Oct 2012	#2
I would hope that eventually research leads us to a place	Warpy	Oct 2012	#3
You make it sound complicated...	CanSocDem	Oct 2012	#4
More power of positive thinking?	Warpy	Oct 2012	#5
+1	HuckleB	Oct 2012	#6
Well...no.	CanSocDem	Oct 2012	#7
Saline might work 50% of the time	Warpy	Oct 2012	#8
Then, clearly...	CanSocDem	Oct 2012	#9

Response to xchrom (Original post)

Wed Oct 24, 2012, 07:54 AM

bemildred (67,517 posts)

1. I don't see why this is mysterious.

The mind and the body interact, the mind does control the body, and vice-versa, there is no magic involved, and the physical limitations of the body limit what the mind can do in that regard, and vice-versa, which can vary from person to person and depending on personal history.

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Response to xchrom (Original post)

Wed Oct 24, 2012, 08:09 AM

longship (17,714 posts)

2. Not surprised about this.

I believe that evolutionary psychologists have a good idea. I think all animal behavior is evolutionarily based. The science here can be a bit dodgy and on the edge, but the conjecture is at least plausible and has not been outright falsified. The difficulty is studying this is because of so many complicating variables.

AFAIK, Stephen Pinker is a strong advocate.

So, yes, I believe the placebo effect has evolutionary origins because it looks like all behavior has those same origins. But, I reserve this opinion subject to future research.

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Response to xchrom (Original post)

Wed Oct 24, 2012, 03:52 PM

Warpy (69,200 posts)

3. I would hope that eventually research leads us to a place

where we can predict and control the placebo effect. As of now, we can't predict if an individual is susceptible or if he has been susceptible in the past, if he will be at the present. That's how unpredictable it is.

In the meantime, it will keep quacks up to their nostrils in diamonds.

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Response to Warpy (Reply #3)

Fri Oct 26, 2012, 10:24 AM

CanSocDem (1,557 posts)

4. You make it sound complicated...

...when it's really quite simple. All you have to do is convince the patient the treatment is working.

The hard part is defining "...is working"

'Treatments' over 'cures' are working for a lot of people.

.

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Response to CanSocDem (Reply #4)

Fri Oct 26, 2012, 04:18 PM

Warpy (69,200 posts)

5. More power of positive thinking?

Spare. me.

When your appendix pops, you'll be screaming for morphine just like everybody else.

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Response to Warpy (Reply #5)

Fri Oct 26, 2012, 04:51 PM

HuckleB (25,277 posts)

6. +1

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Response to Warpy (Reply #5)

Sat Oct 27, 2012, 11:07 AM

CanSocDem (1,557 posts)

7. Well...no.

But if a medic came along and convinced me that the needle was morphine, I'd stop screaming. Most people would.

Ever watch someone get high on Oregano???

Ever see someone 'ignore' the pain???

.

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Response to CanSocDem (Reply #7)

Sat Oct 27, 2012, 03:51 PM

Warpy (69,200 posts)

8. Saline might work 50% of the time

but morphine works 100% of the time.

You'll be screaming for morphine, not saline solution and a lie.

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Response to Warpy (Reply #8)

Sun Oct 28, 2012, 11:15 AM

CanSocDem (1,557 posts)

9. Then, clearly...

...medical science should be studying why it works 50% of the time.

And since I'm aware of your tendency to exaggerate, let me add that even a 10% success rate should interest science. But it doesn't. Why not?

Because they have a system in place that is focused on treatment not cure.

ModernMedicineINC never gets anywhere because it refuses to study healthy people. It's not in their mandate.

.

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