Friday, May 31, 2019

The Placebo Effect: How Strong Is The Power of Suggestion? :: Biology Essays Research Papers

The Placebo Effect How Strong Is The Power of Suggestion?For years, scientists have sought to find an explanation for the placebo inwardness. Although many hypotheses exist, there is no matchless reason defining why or how the placebos work. Some researchers argue that the phenomenon doesnt even occur that the placebo effect is merely random error and that any improvement tell to be caused by a placebo is simply a spontaneous recovery in the forbearings condition (2)(3). Other scientists argue that Pavlovian conditioning supports an explanation for the effect If patients have previously shown improvement from being in a medical setting or from taking medicine, they are conditioned to experience positive effect every time they are in the same situation (1). A second explanation for the placebo effect is that any drug (or placebo) given to a patient leave reduce their stress levels. Because many illnesses begin under high-stress circumstances, or exhibit more extreme symptoms und er stressful situations, many of the patients symptoms are possible to improve (2)(4).The first question that must be answered before delving into the hypotheses behind the placebo effect is whether or not the phenomenon even exists. Certain physicians and scientists claim that positive effect of a placebo are, in actuality, just the bodys natural ways of healing itself and the immune systems defenses kicking in soon after the placebo is taken (2). Basically, these researchers argue that improvement in a patients condition after being administered a placebo is merely a coincidence. Negative effects that are often blamed on placebos are viewed by these researches in the same way nausea or headaches that are claimed to be a placebos side effects may be spontaneously occurring symptoms (3). It has been established that colds, nausea, headaches and flus will indeed go away eventually, regardless of whether we take drugs or not. But how can studies that show that placebos have an effec t on more serious and chronic illnesses, or potentially fatal conditions, such as hypertension, asthma, Parkinsons disease and schizophrenia be explained?One theory comes from Pavlovs experiment on conditioned reflexes. In this experiment, Pavlov rang a bell before giving food to a dog. After a numerous trials, no food was given after the bell rang, further the dog still salivated and expected the food. This reflex was an involuntary bodily response to an outside stimulus. Similarly, many people have experienced relief after tour a physician or taking a medication.

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