Who responds to sugar pills?
Among 288 cancer patients undergoing controlled trials of oral analgesics there were 112 who received 50% or greater pain relief from placebo formulations. Patients who responded to placebo had a greater response rate to active drugs. They also had a higher incidence of central nervous system side effects to placebo. Patient groups showing as increased placebo response included those with a high level of education, farmers, those with a professional occupation, women working outside the home, and patients who were widowed, separated, or divorced. Those resistant to placebo were patients with a low educational level, unskilled workers, housewives, married women without children, and smokers. It is theorized that placebo response is a type of autohypnosis phenomenon resulting from exaggerated oral-dependency needs. Particularly vulnerable to placebo effect is the very self-sufficient individual with heavy responsibilities who is thrust into the unaccustomed dependency of disabling illness.
D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007785:Lactose / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010919:Placebos / Q000009:adverse effects; D011584:Psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D000700:Analgesics; D009294:Narcotics; D010919:Placebos; D007785:Lactose