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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 5 page paper delves into the well known placebo effect. How does it work? Several studies are cited. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
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5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: RT13_SA519pla.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
new light on this old topic. For example, one study notes that placebos--or sham medicines--do have some benefit for people with Parkinsons Disease (Bower 334). In this experiment, a
research team provided eleven Parkinsons patients some medication that would halt the rigidity in their muscles (Bower 334). That was real medication. The doctors tested them to demonstrate that their
brains reacted a certain expected way (Bower 334). Then, the same doctors provided a placebo, which consisted of a saline solution instead of the true meditation (Bower 334).
What happened? In a good number of participants, the symptoms of Parkinsons actually improved (Bower 334). This means that someone with a real disease, who swallows a sugar pill--or in
this case receiving a salt solution--may receive psychological benefits from what is called the placebo effect. Researchers concluded, in this particular study, that placebos could assist individuals who have Parkinsons
disease (Bower 334). Of course, when it is suggested that placebos work in some cases, one can stretch that to suggest that they work in a variety of instances.
The idea of using a placebo and it having a true medicinal effect is rather incredible. If a medicine is developed to cure a disease or disorder, and the patient
gets better by taking a pill without the tested medication, that speaks volumes abut the power of suggestion. This may be because people do get better whether or not they
receive any medication at all (Kaptchuk, Eisenberg and Komaroff 71). Also, there are some who explain the placebo effect by saying that people sometimes misperceive their illness or
recovery (Kaptchuk, Eisenberg and Komaroff 71). While there are skeptics, the majority of medical professionals do believe that there is a true placebo effect (Kaptchuk, Eisenberg and Komaroff 71).
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