Re:Why do placebos work? Scientists identify key brain pathway
by wyager on Thursday October 28, 2021 @12:26PM
(#29027875)
> Do you expect a single study
This is a meta study.
> to overturn decades of research and medical practice?
“Medical practice” has an atrocious record of being based in fact. There is, in fact, plenty of research on placebo, and the preponderance seems to suggest that it’s weak or non-existent.
> E.g. placebos still work when you know it's a placebo, it works for animals
This is consistent with, and in fact favors, the theory that it’s actually just mean reversion.
> Maybe Bad Science by Ben Goldacre is a good starting point as a book
I don’t think pop scientism books are a good place to start.
This is a meta study.
> to overturn decades of research and medical practice?
“Medical practice” has an atrocious record of being based in fact. There is, in fact, plenty of research on placebo, and the preponderance seems to suggest that it’s weak or non-existent.
> E.g. placebos still work when you know it's a placebo, it works for animals
This is consistent with, and in fact favors, the theory that it’s actually just mean reversion.
> Maybe Bad Science by Ben Goldacre is a good starting point as a book
I don’t think pop scientism books are a good place to start.