- how well would harmless placebo pills work in their place?
I currently believe that there needs to be a safe, placebo-like option for people without severe illnesses. For those who are severe (and can tolerate side effects as serious as suicidality), it still seems to be a good idea to prescribe them.
How would that work? Do placebos work even if people know they're placebos? Could doctors just start prescribing a placebo called Fauxzac and it would work some of the time?
Comments
This is consistent with my understanding, but:
- how serious are the side effects?
- how well would harmless placebo pills work in their place?
I currently believe that there needs to be a safe, placebo-like option for people without severe illnesses. For those who are severe (and can tolerate side effects as serious as suicidality), it still seems to be a good idea to prescribe them.
"placebo-like option"
How would that work? Do placebos work even if people know they're placebos? Could doctors just start prescribing a placebo called Fauxzac and it would work some of the time?
Sometimes, yes! See: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/placebo-can-work-even-kn...
But they're probably more effective if you don't know.