Placebos in Clinical Practice
REINFORCING MIND-ODY LINK

Medical dictionaries define placebo as a non-medication substance, prescribed or given to reinforce the patient's expectation to get well. Research on the effect of placebos is of great significance to healthcare professionals because of their widespread use. That widespread use draws from their effect in the improvement of a symptom or disease without specifically improving the condition under treatment. That effect, called the placebo effect, has been proven powerful and inherent in clinical work. Furthermore, the patient-practitioner relationship is an equally essential part of the psychosocial aspect of treatment. Within that context, the practitioner communicates information on recovery and wellness through words, gestures and behavior. In addition to previous studies on the wide acceptance and use of placebos, a more recent one revealed that 46% of academic physicians in the Chicago area used placebos in their everyday clinical practice. A high 96% of them believed…...

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

ACS (2010). Placebo effect. American Cancer Society: American Cancer Society, Inc.

Retrieved on February 10, 2012 from  http://www.cancer.org/TreatmentsandSideEffects/TreatmentTypes/placebo-effect 

Arnstein, P. et al. (2011). Controlling pain: placebos: no place in pain management.

41 (1) Nursing: Wolters Kluwer Health. Retrieved on February 10, 2012 from  http://www.nursingcenter.com/library/static.asp?pageid=1152150

Whether someone views something as a placebo or not from a medical standpoint, if it improves the health and well-being of a patient then it is good for that patient, and good for the medical community as a whole (Ambrose, 2007).
The second reason for the health care system to allow alternative medicine is that people believe in it in the same way that they believe in placebo pills if they are not told that they are placebos (Ambrose, 2007). There will always be some people who do not think that these things work, and they might not work for them, but there are many people who have been helped by non-traditional medical practices, just as there are many people who have been helped by more traditional means (Ambrose, 2007). People should be allowed to choose which one they want without fear of getting in trouble with the law, getting…...

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Bibliography

Ambrose, EG. (2007). Placebos: The nurse and the iron pills. Journal of Medical Ethics, 33, 325-28.

Connelly, RJ. (1991). Nursing responsibility for the placebo effect. Journal of Medical Philosophy, 16(3), 325-41.

Jones, Stephen F. (2002). Where Does Naturopathic Medicine Fit into the Canadian Health Care System? Isn't it Time all Health Care Providers Work Together? Millennium Health Centre. Retrieved at  http://www.millenniumhealthcentre.com/art10.htm 

Moerman, D. (2002). Meaning, medicine, and the 'placebo effect.' Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-80630-5.

Placebo Drugs
One of the most important factors involved in medical trials is probably ethics. Concerns like participant autonomy and informed consent are among the top priorities of the research clinician. This is why the use of placebos in clinical trials produces some murky waters, particularly with issues like the current Ebola crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa. While it is definitely acceptable to use a placebo in some cases, other cases produce crises of a dire enough sort to make the use of placebos unethical and potentially life-threatening.

The big debate around the Ebola trials focus on the ethics of using a placebo-medicated control group in trials that investigate medications that could save the lives of many. Indeed, one of the factors of such trials is comparing the mortality rate between the groups (Perrone). Surely an ethical boundary is being crossed here, since no Ebola sufferer would agree to a trial that is…...

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Lichtenberg, P., Heresco-Levy, P., and Nitzan, U. (2003, Jun. 2). The ethics of the placebo in clinical practice. Journal of Medical Ethics. 30 (6). Retrieved from:  http://jme.bmj.com/content/30/6/551.full 

Perrone, M. (2014, Nov. 12). Ebola drug testing sparks ethics debate. The Big Story. Retrieved from: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/0e3ef8650e0b415d9b5006c0aa033ae3/ebola-drug-testing-sparks-ethics-debate

Walton, A.G. (2013, Mar. 22). Is it Ethical for Doctors to Prescribe a Placebo? Forbes. Retrieved from:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2013/03/22/is-it-ethical-for-doctors-to-prescribe-placebo/

Placebos
Proposition Fact (Proposition: Placebos actual benefits patients) 1. You defend a proposition fact relevant significant a future proposition policy, argue values policies essay. IMPOTANT!! 2. The essay carefully strucutured standard parts a formal essay.

Proposition of Fact

Placebos can have actual benefits to patients

Placebos are sham or fake treatments that are given to patients, in place of actual treatment. A doctor can decide to issue this kind of treatment to a patient depending on a number of reasons. Placebos have become very common forms of treatments especially in schools and have been proven to be effective in many cases. The fact that placebos have been proven to be effective has led to many researches that are carried out to find out how they work, and to what extent they are effective Everitt, 2006.

Most of the researches have resulted to positive reports that the placebos do have actual benefits to patients. In…...

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References

Everitt, B. (2006). Medical Statistics from A to Z: A Guide for Clinicians And Medical Students. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Gallin, J.I. (2002). Principles and practice of clinical research. Massachusetts: Academic Press.

Guess, H.A. (2002). The science of the placebo: toward an interdisciplinary research agenda. London: BMJ Books.

Hadden, E.L., & Anchorage, U. o. A. (2007). The bacillus calmette-guerin tuberculosis vaccine experiment on southeast Alaska natives: An experiment without informed consent. Alaska: University of Alaska Anchorage.

Croop et al. (1997).

The overall safety profile of naltrexone is good; however, care must be taken in prescribing the drug to certain patient populations; e.g., naltrexone shows a dose-dependent hepatotoxicity (package insert) and is therefore contraindicated in patients with significant hepatic impairment, which is frequently encountered in alcohol-dependent populations.

The clinical trials of naltrexone have typically been conducted in patients without significant impairment in hepatic function. Another consequence of the hepatic impact of naltrexone is the possibility of drug-drug interactions.

Kim et al. (2001) potentially clinically significant interaction has been reported between naltrexone and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; these researchers found elevated liver function tests in study participants receiving both medications, although the doses of naltrexone used in this study were higher than the typical 50 mg daily dose.

Naltrexone is not appropriate for use with patients taking prescribed or illicit opioid drugs. Antagonism of the effects of these drugs at opiate receptors will…...

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References

Ait-Daoud, N., & Johnson, B.A. (1999). Medications to treat alcoholism. Alcohol Research & Health, 23(2), 99.

Anton, R.F., & Randall, C.L. (2005). Measurement and choice of drinking outcome variables in the COMBINE study. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 66(4), 104.

Bhagar, H.A., & Schmetzer, a.D. (2006). New antidipsotropics. Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association, 9(4), 29.

Bean, P., & Nemitz, T. (2004). Drug treatment: What works? New York: Routledge.

Ginko Biloba
Gingko Biloba -- Part I

What are the author's general conclusions (summarized) on the effectiveness of Gingko Biloba as a cognitive enhancer?

According to the author, effects of Gingko on cognition are perplexing because of its dual actions as following. It's seen improving short-term memory but at the same time it impairs digit recall ability. It slows down mental decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease but has lower dose response curve than acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors. Gingko slows mental decline during dementia owing to its action as an anti-oxidant and ability to combat stress. This action is of short-term and isn't seen chronically. Gingko has more scores for improvement seen in patients when compared to acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors like Donepezil but has fewer efficacies than the later. Effects of Gingko are mainly attributable not to its direct action on improving memory but to its indirect action of improving attention and arousal. Moreover,…...

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References:

Mark A. McDaniel, Steven F. Maier, and Gilles O. Einstein. (2003) 'Brain-specific nutrients: A memory cure?' Nutrition, vol. 19, pp. 957-973

Paul E. Gold, Larry Cahill, and Gary L. Wenk. (2002) 'Gingko Biloba: A cognitive enhancer?' Psychological Science in Public Interest, vol. 3, May, pp. 2-10.

Psychological Element in Drug Use and Dependence
Placebo, the Latin term for "I will please," refers to the psychological positive response that a patient exhibits to a non-specific treatment. It is a purely psychological element, which arises out of the patient's trust in the physician, or the belief in the positive medicinal effects of the drug. Researcher Henry eecher's famous study in 1955 showed that more than 30% of patients respond positively to a placebo. Since then, numerous studies that were focused on the effects of placebo have reported mixed results. The brain imaging study conducted by Leuchter, in 2002, revealed distinct patterns of cerebral blood flow as a response to placebo among depressed subjects. Similarly Evans (2004) reported that placebo effect was quite marked in medical conditions that involved acute phase response. (inflammtion, acute sensitivity, etc.). [Wikipedia] Since placebo trials report significant positive response (at least in one third of…...

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Bibliography

1) Wikipedia, " Placebo effect," Accessed on 14th Oct 2005,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo_effect 

2) University of Colorado, "Psychoactive Drugs and Addiction,"

Accessed on 14th Oct 2005, psych.colorado.edu/~campeaus/2012/StudyguideExam4.PDF

3) University of Waterloo, "Biological and Psychological Models of Drug Use," Accessed on 14th Oct 2005,

The placebo drink smells and tastes like alcohol. Everyone (regardless of condition) believes that they are getting alcohol. He then videotapes each person's communication behavior in a group setting with 10 other people (who are also randomly assigned to the placebo or alcohol condition). Participants sign an informed consent form saying that they are getting alcohol and that they will be participating in a group setting to get to know other people who are also drinking alcohol. They are not told that some of them will think they get alcohol when they are really sober.
There are no ethical issues or problems presented by this case either. Deception was necessary to conduct research in this cases but the type of deception involved in serving placebos instead of alcohol would not present any risk of emotional or other harm to participants. Since the nature of the deception would not cause emotional…...

authoritative in answering my question not only since it originates from a reliable source, but also because it itself is obviously professional and of high quality.
There are numerous markers that indicate this. Firstly the title is concise and to the point stating the question followed by method of inquiry. The Abstract summarizes the article succinctly explaining objective (to investigate whether Paracetamol increases duration of fever and is safe when used with children); Design (a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial) the methodology; esults (with statistical abbreviations); and Conclusion (Paracetamol is effective on all counts).

Professionalism is further shown by a brief introduction that covers the purpose of the research and culminates in the hypothesis: (i) that use of Paracetamol prolongs fever clearance time, and that (ii) rate of decline in temperature with Paracetamol administration imitates that of placebo.

The subjects and method is thoroughly described in a way that anyone wishing…...

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References

Breakwell, G., Hammond, S. & Fife-Schaw, C. (2000). Research methods in psychology. USA: Sage

Gheri, M et al. (2005). When fever, paracetamol? Theory and practice in a paediatric outpatient clinic, Pharm. World Sci, 27, 254-257

Gupta, H. et al. (2007) Role of paracetamol in treatment of childhood fever: a double-blind randomized placebo controlled trial, Indian Pediatrics, 44, 903-1002

Sullivan, J. & Ferrar, H. (2011). Fever and Antipyretic Use in Children. Pediatrics, 127, 2010-3852

6)

Again, all groups were by the end of the study essentially the same in that they had each served as controls, placebo recipients, and recipients of either one or two interventional medicines. The same periods of medication and testing were utilized for all participants in all groups of the study throughout the period during which the research took place.

7)

According to the researchers, the completion of a crossover study such as this by forty-five participants is equivalent to 80% power at 5% statistical significance that the results could be extrapolated to the wider population. Though a higher level of certainty could be desired, this study's findings are still worthwhile.

8)

The results are presented as average rates of the effects of the varying interventions (or lacks thereof) among the participants during the different phases of the trial. The differences between these averages were compared as different levels of efficacy.

9)

The 80% power that was…...

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References

Wald, D.; Law, M.; Mills, S.; Bestwick, J.; Morris, J. And Wald, N. (2008). "A 16-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial to Quantify the Combined Effect of an Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor and a f3-Blocker on Blood Pressure Reduction." Clinical therapeutics 30(11), pp. 2030-9.

Secondly, they will complete a digit span test associated with the 'Anxiety-triad'. Each group will then receive a different treatment, with one group receiving the 'ylang-ylang' a frequently used aromatherapy, the second group receiving another pleasant smell without the supposed effects of 'ylang-ylang' and the control group which will receive no therapy at all, instead they will be given a placebo. The third group will be informed that the room they are entering is fragranced with aromatherapuetic smells.
The proposal is designed to confirm the effects of aromatherapy. Because the study will be conducted using a double-blind methodology the effects, or non-effects, will be either substantiated or not. The benefits of the study will be to conclude whether further use of a specific aromatherapy in regard to lowering stress and anxiety is conducive to continued usage.

Works Cited

Diamond, B., (2004) Complementary and Alternative Medicines in the Treatment of Dementia: an Evidence-based…...

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Rho, K., Han, S., Kim, K., Lee, M., (2006) Effects of Aromatherapy Massage on Anxiety and Self-Esteem in Korean Elderly Woman: A Pilot Study, International Journal of Neuroscience, Vol. 116, No. 12, pp 1447-1455

Shelly, T. et al. (2007) Aromatherapy on a Large Scale: Exposing Entire Adult Holding Rooms to Ginger Root oil Increases the Mating Competitiveness of Sterile Males of the Mediterranean Fruit fly in Field Cage Trials, Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, Vol 123, No. 2, pp 193-201, Blackwell Publishing

Williams, T.I., (2006) Evaluating Effects of Aromatherapy Massage on Sleep in Children With Autism: A Pilot Study, Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 3, No 3, Oxford University Press, pp 373-377

What is worth noting here is the fact that behavior disturbances, ranging in severity from repeated questioning to physical violence, are common (National Institute of Mental Health, 1989).
It is unclear whether Alzheimer's disease represents a single entity or several variants. Some experts believe that there are distinct subtypes of Alzheimer's disease, such as Lewy body disease (in which the signs of Parkinson's disease, visual hallucinations or alterations in alertness or attention, or all of these symptoms, are conspicuous) and frontotemporal dementia (in which disinhibition, misconduct or apathy, or all of these signs, are prominent). The well-established risk factors for Alzheimer's disease are age, a family history of the disease and Down syndrome (National Institute of Mental Health, 1989).

Confusions about Alzheimer's Disease and the Need for Alternative Actions

There have been numerous studies conducted in relation to Alzheimer's disease. At the same time, there are a number of reports which revealed…...

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U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment. Summary, Confused Minds, Burdened Families: Finding Help for People with Alzheimer's and Other Dementias, OTA-BA-404, Washington, DC: Supt. Of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1990.

Vickrey, Peg Gray-. Advances in Alzheimer's Disease. Nursing: Springhouse Corporation, 2002

Whitehouse PJ. Genesis of Alzheimer's disease. Neurology 1997;48(5 Suppl 7):S2-7.

Controlled experiments are those in which groups are separated into control and experimental. Neither group knows what they are receiving, so they may or may not be receiving a sugar pill or something else. The control group is essential for comparisons -- what happens in the control group often determines how the experimental data is interpreted (Scientific Control Group, 2008).
A double blind experiment is one in which some of the participants are prevented from knowing certain information about the study that might lead to bias (conscious or subconscious) thus skewing the results. Blinding can also be imposed on researchers, subjects, funders, or any combination in which one wishes to protect the data integrity. In the use of new drugs, blinded experiments are necessary because a patient might feel better if they think they are receiving a powerful new medicine -- the placebo effect. It is impossible, however, to double blind…...

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REFERENCES

Double Blind Experiment. (2008). Experiment-Resources.com. Retrieved from:

 http://www.experiment-resources.com/double-blind-experiment.html 

Scientific Control Group. (2008). Experment-Resources.com. Retrieved from:

 http://www.experiment-resources.com/scientific-control-group.html

Treatments for Rosacea
Rosacea is a medical condition characterized by reddening of the skin. The face primarily will turn red in hue. Sores may appear on the skin as well. The face may also swell to some degree. It is an unfortunate condition where patients not only have to deal with the illness itself, but also with psychological ramifications from feeling unattractive due to the skin pigments or lesions. Although there is currently no cure for Rosacea, scientists have researched various treatments to help patients suffering from the condition.

In the article, "Treatment of Rosacea with Intense Pulsed Light," researchers Papageorgiou et. al consider how ultra violet and pulsed light might positively treat skin conditions like Rosacea. During this particular experiment, the researchers tested 34 patients who were given treatments every three weeks for a total of twelve weeks. More than 70% of patients experienced at least a 50% reduction of skin…...

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Works Cited

Lee, DH, Li, K.K., & Suh, DH "Pimecrolimus 1% Cream for the Treatment of Steroid-

Induced Rosacea: an 8-week Split-Face Clinical Trial." British Journal of Dermatology. (158:5). 2008. 1069-76. Print.

Papageorgiou, P.P., Clayton, W.W., Norwood, S.S., Chopra, S.S., & Rustin, M.M. "Treatment of Rosacea with Intense Pulsed Light: Significant Improvement and Long-Lasting Results." British Journal of Dermatology. (159:3). 2008. 628-32. Print.

Sharquie, K.E., Najim, R.A., & Al-Salman, H.N. "Oral Zinc Sulfate in the Treatment of Rosacea: a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study." International Journal of Dermatology. (45:7). 2006. 857-61. Print.

Michelson explains that buspirone could manipulate certain serotonin receptors in an attempt to ameliorate the overload of serotonin, and that amantadine was thought to increase dopamine activity. As such, either might theoretically help with SSRI-related sexual dysfunction. However, when the double-blind test was performed, it found that the success of treatment was roughly the same regardless of whether these pills were taken or a placebo was used. One significant difference was that those on admantadine had greater energy levels than they study-mates, which did not seem to directly affect sexual functioning. Michelson and his colleagues speculated that the reason for such marked improvement in all categories was the extensive journaling and attention paid to the sexual activity.
Ashton and Rosen report on "Bupropion as an antidote for serotonin reuptake inhibitor-induced sexual dysfunction"

Unlike the Michelson study, Ashton and Rosen's work on using bupropion to ameliorate the sexual dysfunctions associated with SSRIs…...

Of course! Here are some potential essay topics related to the placebo effect that you could consider:

1. The history and origins of the placebo effect: Exploring how the concept of the placebo effect has evolved over time and its cultural and scientific roots.

2. The psychology of the placebo effect: Analyzing the psychological mechanisms behind the placebo effect and how factors such as expectation, conditioning, and belief play a role.

3. The ethics of placebo treatments: Discussing the ethical implications of using placebos in medical practice and research, including issues of informed consent and deception.

4. The neurological basis of the placebo effect:....

Essay Topics on the Placebo Effect

Introduction:

The placebo effect, a fascinating phenomenon, arises when individuals experience significant health improvements after receiving an inactive or fake treatment. This effect highlights the power of the mind and its ability to influence physiological responses. Exploring the placebo effect offers valuable insights into the complexities of health and well-being.

1. The Mechanisms Behind the Placebo Effect

Investigate the psychological and physiological processes that contribute to the placebo effect.
Discuss the role of expectation, conditioning, and cognitive biases in shaping the experience.
Explore the potential involvement of neurochemical pathways, such as the release of endorphins.

2. Placebo Effect....

Psychotropic Medications and Therapy: An Effective Combination
Psychotropic medications and therapy are distinct yet complementary approaches to mental health treatment. When used in conjunction, they can synergistically enhance therapeutic outcomes.
Benefits of Combining Medication and Therapy:
Improved Symptom Management: Medications can effectively alleviate symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis, allowing patients to better engage in therapy.
Enhanced Cognitive Function: Some medications can improve cognitive function, which can facilitate therapy by enhancing problem-solving skills and emotional regulation.
Reduced Resistance: Medication can reduce psychological resistance to therapy by mitigating symptoms that hinder the patient's willingness to participate.
Increased Motivation: Medications can boost motivation....

Essay Topics Presenting Opposing Viewpoints on Evaluation

1. The Effectiveness of Online Learning: A Comparison of Synchronous and Asynchronous Modes

Opposing Viewpoint 1: Synchronous online learning is more effective than asynchronous learning because it provides real-time interaction and collaboration. (Citation: Smith, 2021)
Opposing Viewpoint 2: Asynchronous online learning is more effective than synchronous learning because it allows students to learn at their own pace and provides more flexibility. (Citation: Jones, 2019)

2. The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health: Benefits vs. Risks

Opposing Viewpoint 1: Social media has positive effects on adolescent mental health by providing social support,....