Placebo vs. Placebo

Fun article (title above) in the April 2006 issue of Discover magazine, citing research into whether doctors can manipulate the placebo effect.

For the testing, medical researcher Ted Kaptchuk used sugar pills and pretend acupuncture - both fake medicines - to see which one worked better to relieve chronic arm pain. Half of his subjects received "acupuncture" with needles that retracted before they pierced the skin. The other half received little blue pills made of cornstarch.

Results:

• after 10 weeks, the pill-takers said their pain decreased about 15%.
• after 8 weeks, the "acupunctured" reported more than a 26% a drop in their pain levels.

Conclusion:

• Not receiving acupuncture reduces pain more than not taking drugs!

Interesting side-bar:

• 25% of the acupuncture group experienced side effects, including 19 people who felt pain and 4 people whose skin became red/swollen.
• 31% of the fake pill group experienced side effects, including dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue restlessness, rashes, headaches, nausea, and nightmares.
• 3 subjects were forced to withdraw from the study because the side effects failed to subside even after "doses" were reduced.
• the side effects experienced exactly matched those described as possible by the doctors at the beginning of the study.