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(http://www.imt.ie/news/2014/03/ethical-considerations-around-use-of-placebos-explored-in-student-study.html)
Ethical considerations around use of placebos explored in student study
March 26, 2014
By Lloyd Mudiwa.
Significant ethical issues are yet to be resolved before the use of the placebo in clinical practice could be considered, according to a study published in the latest edition of the RCSI Students Medical Journal.
The seventh issue of the RCSIsmj covering 2013-2014, directed by Eoin Kelleher who passes stewardship of the journal to the next generation of students, was launched during the RCSI Research Day on Thursday last week.
The study entitled, ‘All in your head: is the use of placebos a form of benevolent deception?,’ explored this question based on the evidence available.
RCSI medical student Lolanda Tiedt carried out a literature search using mainly electronic databases such as Ovid Medline, PubMed and the Cochrane Library. Scirus and Google Scholar were also used.
For the purpose of the paper, placebo was defined as a pharmacologically inert medication, but the broader term ‘placebo effect’ and all that it encompasses was also explored.
A Cochrane review found placebos to have a significant statistical effect on pain and nausea, using only quality-controlled studies.
Although many placebo trials claim to significantly improve both patient- and observer-reported outcomes, a 2010 Cochrane review shows that most of these reports are founded on studies that have failed to randomise patients to placebo or no treatment groups, thereby reducing their reliability.
“Although the placebo should not be considered a wonder drug, it can alleviate symptoms when applied to specific conditions such as pain,” Tiedt said.