The placebo effect. What is it in psychology, the list of drugs in tablet, syndrome, placebo method contrary

In some sources, the placebo effect is defined as the medicine prescribed more to meet the wishes of the patient, rather than for therapeutic effect. The literature describes cases where the physician assigned to patients or that the drug is not endowed with properties effective, but patients taught that a very effective drug.

As a result of this treatment in fact occurred improvement of health of patients. There have been cases where patients manifest and spillover effects attributed to taking medication.

Although in fact the components are characterized by a similar action was not in the drug. The reason is that under the influence of self-hypnosis in the human body, receiving placebo, carried out the launch of the self-healing processes.

What is the placebo effect

The placebo effect - it is the impact on the body, when the medical sense inefficient treatment gives positive results based on the body's ability to heal itself. Subjective or real change in health status depends on the patient's psychological confidence in the effectiveness of treatment.

Typically, medications are used with a neutral effect, and a positive effect is associated with either Naturally, increasing the patient's state of health during the recovery or self-suggestion to the usefulness of this treatment. Also known is an opposite reaction placebo - nocebo, translated from Latin means "I'm much harm."

In a situation where the patient is convinced of the ineffectiveness of treatment, deterioration of the patient can be observed with high probability. Often in these situations, there are the negative symptoms that could be caused by taking the drug. The occurrence of these symptoms is linked patients with the action of the drug.

Classification

The placebo effect - it is a property that has long been studied, but a clear definition has not yet been received. Most often refers to a procedure or medicaments for use with a medical point of view has a neutral effect. On this basis, the concept of the placebo can be included not only popular everywhere drugs.

This effect extends to a wider range of vehicles.

• Medications. Pharmaceutical companies produced a considerable number of medicines, the effectiveness of which remains in doubt. Of course, such preparations do not provide for the treatment of serious diseases. But for the treatment of minor illnesses drugs may well be appointed, efficiency which is based on the patient's confidence in the beneficial effects of the drug on health status.

• Imaginary surgery. In the history of medicine presented cases when surgery is only indoctrinated sick, but not carried out in reality. An important role was played by a reliable preoperative preparation of the patient, the corresponding manipulation after "conducted" operation. When the patient was played before reliable performance urged in reality of a surgical intervention, the patient responded accordingly.
• Acupuncture. This healing method has Eastern origin. The belief is that by means of needle-stick injuries at certain points on the body can get rid of their ailments, and now helps in the treatment of many patients.
• Homeopathy. The effectiveness of drugs, which are called homeopathic, causes a lot of controversy, but their use is fairly widespread.

Who acts on placebo

The placebo effect - it is a tool that can be shown on - different for different people. Practice the use of drugs shows that in children treatment with drugs - phony better than that of many adults. Positive results were obtained and similar drugs therapy of patients with mental disorders.

This form of treatment for maximally effective suggestible more people than those who are questioning any means and cross-checking. For the latter, the result will likely be zero. Susceptible people taking the drug - a pacifier, do not just feel appropriate sensations treatment but also can be seen on the side effects themselves, who took the drug did not produce can.

Practical use

• In these days of placebo is often prescribed to patients who are prone to accusatory in his manifestations of various diseases. Because in such cases, the disease exists only in the mind of the patient, and then to treat it expedient methods based on suggestion, in order to avoid unnecessary medication effects on the body.
• It is also widely used placebo means for controlling the impact of new medicines.
• Treatment of alcoholics - and the drug is not without a placebo medication. During the treatment the patients inspired desire to get rid of the disease.

• Effectively used the placebo and in psychiatry. Treatment based on suggestion, easily allows you to adjust different deviations of the psyche, whether it's depression, sleep disorders or abnormalities in the sexual sphere.
• placebo drugs used in sports. Athlete's conviction that taking medicine is doping, promotes performance.
• Drugs - pacifiers help to get rid of psychosomatic illnesses, as the impact on the human psyche is easier to remove it with the help of suggestion.

psychological features

The placebo effect is based on the suggestion, so this method is most widely used by psychologists and psychiatrists. Field of use is not limited to the treatment of any abnormalities in mental status. This property is included in the educational and training processes to achieve greater effect in the development and stabilization of patients of any age group.

Fundamentally important component of the healing process with placebo effect acts proper preparation for recovery.

A feeling the positive effects of the treatment applied to the patient's condition becomes a prerequisite for genuine improvement. The conviction of the patient that the applied medicine is endowed with specific properties, helps to mobilize the body's own resources to defeat the disease.

The mechanism of effect in medicine

From a medical point of view of the mechanics of manifestation of the placebo effect is that under the influence conscious and unconscious expectations human body triggers certain mechanisms life. The body produces certain hormones, enzymes or other substances that affect physiological processes.

External manifestation of these changes may be the removal of pain, reduction of fatigue, anxiety and other negative symptoms, to fight, and that use of the drug was targeted.

Practical use

The effect of self-hypnosis can be accompanied by the use of drugs and other therapies and even surgery. Therapy may be limited only to suggestion. This form of medical effects on the body and is called the placebo method.

The decisive factor is the preparation of the soil for treatment. The patient should be made to believe in the efficacy of manipulation. Only in this case, his body will give an appropriate response to the treatment.

Drugs that are considered placebo

Since the methods of treatment using the placebo effect is largely based on deception or self-deception of the patient, the use of placebo is quite a lot of controversy. Nevertheless, today's pharmaceutical companies continue to develop and bring to market new drugs such plan.

Of the entire list of drugs that are used today by doctors, and the third is accounted for by drugs - placebo. Typically, these drugs are very expensive, but credible and physicians and patients.

Among the most popular drugs in the placebo group include:

preparations	Act
Aktovegin, Solkoseril, Cere	Affects blood circulation and microcirculation
Linex, Bifidok, Hilak Forte Bifidumbacterin	Probiotics, prebiotics
Kokarboksilaza, Riboksin	Metabolic action, activation of tissue metabolism. Drugs - precursors of ATP
validol	sedative effect
Piracetam, Nootropin, Pantogam, Tanakan, Preductal, Phenibut, tenoten	Contribute to improving brain blood circulation
Mexidol Mildronat	Antioxidant, metabolic drug
bioparoks	Local treatment of upper respiratory tract infections
Polyoxidonium, grometsin, Grippol	Immunomodulator, anti-stress agent
Valokardin, Corvalol, Valoserdin, Novopassit	Depressant
Trombovazim	Protivotrombovy drug
Mezim Forte Essentiale H	Improved digestion recovery of liver cells

Surgical intervention

Scientists have conducted a study on the presence of the placebo effect during surgical procedures. As a result, the set of experiments, it was found that a properly furnished, though not held in fact, surgery produces an effect similar to these Operational intervention.

The first alleged the operation was conducted in the middle of the last century in the United States surgeon Leonard Cobb. He assured patients suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system, in that they had an operation on the heart. But in reality, the patient makes an incision in the chest in the heart area, followed by suturing.

The vast majority of patients showed improvement in the state. At the end of the last century, another surgeon performed an experiment with imaginary surgery on the meniscus. Some of the patients have been operated actually, and before the others have been played a convincing picture of the operation. After that all state improvement was observed.

Acupuncture and homeopathy

Acupuncture has a thousand-year history of use. The basis of this method lies not just the mechanical action on certain points of human body to provoke certain processes. Without the appropriate psychological preparation of the patient, ie, without suggestion component, the positive effect of acupuncture significantly reduced.

Therefore, acupuncture treatment can also be attributed to the placebo method.

Widespread homeopathy also is based on a component of psychological subliminal. The belief that a drug favors the improvement of the state, allows using neutral tap syrups own reserves of the body to heal itself.

Which reinforces the placebo effect

Numerous studies of regularities of manifestation of the effect it possible to determine the factors influencing the gain favorable placebo effects on the body. When a similar composition and properties of the components of - perceived differently pills of different sizes, shapes, colors.

So great therapeutic effect characterized tablets larger form. Bitter medicine more effective than sweet. Medicaments taken 2 tablets at a time, also have a more pronounced effect.

A great role in the formation of the trust funds to effectively play its appearance. Strengthening the placebo effect contributes to the bright packaging, different engraving on the tablets. For the treatment of various diseases effectively apply the medicine in different colors. So to get rid of the symptoms of anxiety pills contribute shades of green and yellow pills are effective in the treatment of depressive states.

The intensity of the manifestation of the placebo effect to the representatives of different nationalities influenced by different factors. During testing it was found that the Russians and Americans are more preferred dosage preparations in the form of injections or drips, while Europeans trusted more drugs in capsules.

The placebo effect is manifested in varying degrees, in the treatment of various kinds of diseases. The greatest efficiency of the use of medicines - pacifiers noted in the treatment of depressive states.

Strengthening effect also contributes to the high cost of the drug and its inaccessibility. Reputation doctor, make an appointment, also influences the degree of confidence in the drug, and thus the effectiveness of the treatment.

On the manifestation of the effect does not affect the awareness of patients that the drug is an empty shell. The studies were obtained similar results to those patients who were aware of the details of the experiment, and those who were not privy to the details. Moreover, sometimes a positive trend manifested itself in more knowledgeable group than the uninformed patients.

Currently, the placebo effect has set scientists there are more questions than answers. Combinations of different factors can trigger such symptoms that are difficult to reproduce repeatedly. Mechanisms manifestations of reactions to medications and medical impact of this category yet to be explored.

Author: Rafikova Elena

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