Apparently, you can know too much

[grinninfoole]

NYT article on negative consequences of placebo effect.  I'm especially intrigued by how much negative side effects increased depending on the level of information given.

Comments

[anagramofbrat.livejournal.com]

Interesting, but makes sense. I especially liked this bit at the end:

Words are the most powerful tool a doctor possesses, but words, like a two-edged sword, can maim as well as heal.

[millari.livejournal.com]

I'm sort of afraid to read this article. I *like* my placebo effect. It may or may not work for me, but I don't want to know if it doesn't. :P

[grinninfoole.livejournal.com]

No, the point is that the negative effect can work, too. Like, doctors who are too explicit in discussing possible side effects of treatments are more likely to see those side effects than control groups that don't hear about them. It means that physicians have to be careful about how they inform their patients.

[millari.livejournal.com]

Ah, okay. Thanks for clearing that up. I'll have to look at that then.

:)