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Home > Comment > BMJ
2008;336(7653):1087 (17 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39577.534688.3A

BMJ  2008;336:1087 (17 May),
doi:10.1136/bmj.39577.534688.3A

Letters

Placebo effect

Placebolotherapy

I am thinking of setting myself up as a placebolotherapist.1
Placebolotherapy—the standard by which all other treatments are
measured. At least as effective as all types of psychotherapy and all
"alternative" healthcare treatments. Treats physical health
conditions and mental health problems (especially mood disorders).
Evidence based. No spurious claims or pseudoscientific explanations.
No reliance on ill defined terms such as "energy," "auras," "crystal
power," or "spirituality."

Placebolotherapy is not a replacement for any proven treatment, it
is an enormously helpful adjunct.

Placebolotherapists spend an hour with the "patient" in a pleasant
room, giving them their full and undivided attention. They explain
that what they are doing is backed up by rigorous scientific
evidence, is extremely effective, and that the patient will
feel better afterwards.

That’s it. Cost £50 a session. Research into placebo shows that
the more value the patient puts on it, the more effective it is (a
placebo injection is more effective than a placebo pill), so an
expensive session will be more effective than a cheap one.

Or should I set myself up as a homoeopath?

Nick J Woodhead, Mental Health Act coordination
manager

1 Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4RN

nick.woodhead{at}sompar.nhs.uk

Competing interests: NJW often uses hot lemon cold
cures.

References

Pittrof R, Rubenstein I. The thinking doctor’s guide to
placebos. BMJ 2008;336:1020. (3 May.)[Free Full Text]

Related Article

The thinking doctor’s guide to placebos

Rudiger Pittrof and Ian Rubenstein
BMJ 2008 336: 1020. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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