A couple of recent articles explored the components of the placebo affect in patients who had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There were three interventions. The first was clinical assessment and observation. The second was placebo acupuncture and the third was placebo acupuncture along with a supportive clinician patient relationship that was characterized by warmth, attention and confidence.
What they found was that 28 percent of the observation-only group had reported adequate pain relief whereas 44 percent of the placebo acupuncture group reported pain relief and 62 percent of the augmented placebo acupuncture group, that's the group who received the warm and supportive atmosphere from the clinician, reported accurate pain relief. Interestingly, similar results were also found on scores of global improvement in their condition and of quality of life.
These results underscore the importance of the caring relationships that nurses have with patients. In this study, physiological changes occurred in patients who were treated with warmth, attention and confidence. In fact, a good nurse/patient relationship may have tangible affects on the patient's responses to treatment whether it is placebo or actual treatment.
From:
Kaptchuk TJ et al. Components of placebo effect: Randomised controlled trial in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. BMJ 2008 Apr 3; [e-pub ahead of print]. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39524.439618.25)
Spiegel D and Harrington A. What is the placebo worth? BMJ 2008 Apr 3; [e-pub ahead of print]. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39535.344201.BE)