Did you know that placebo effects and nocebo effect can be evoked without a placebo; or how about the unspoken ethics code when it comes to prescribing placebos? In a talk by Dr Luana Colloca we learn about the conflicts, ethics and future use of the placebo effect in clinical practice. Here, we summarise some of the key ideas in Dr Colloca's talk.
A Room with a View
In 1983, a groundbreaking study was published demonstrating that architectural environment influences recovery from surgery. Benedetti described the placebo as "the whole ritual of the therapeutic act", so why shouldn't that also include the clinical environment? In this article, we explore the 1983 study and the implications of this in global health.
The Secret Prescription
In 2013, a survey of UK primary care physicians revealed that 97% of them had used placebos in their career, with 77% of them using placebos at least once a week! We take a look at this and what it means for both patients and doctors.
The Architecture of Happiness
Alain de Botton's "The Architecture of Happiness" was one of the books that first got me thinking about how buildings can physically affect us. At Yekize, we believe that the placebo effect, is not just about what you take, but also about other factors such as the doctor-patient relationship and the clinical setting - so why not take architecture into consideration as well?
The Curious Case of Mr Wright
Mr Wright is a case dating back to 1957, in which a patient supposedly made a miraculous recovery via placebo, before relapsing straight-away upon discovering his treatment was a sham. Placebo researchers everywhere wish this case were true, but current research into the placebo effect throws the shadow of doubt on to this incredible story.
“Great architecture can heal”
In 2016, Michael Murphy did one of my all time favourite TED Talk's. It's entitled 'Architecture that's built to heal' and he discusses architecture as a means for physical, emotional and societal healing. His inspiring talk made me feel that this is something we should make more of. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvXZzKZ3JYQ Michael Murphy was inspired to action after hearing … Continue reading “Great architecture can heal”
Did post-colonialism leave a drug vacuum?
What happens when a treatment has a 5% mortality rate and no one's making anything better?I recently finished reading Prof. Peter Kennedy's book 'The Fatal Sleep'. It tells the story of Human African Trypanosomiasis (African Sleeping Sickness). HAT is one of the WHO's neglected tropical diseases. The disease is complex, but in the late stages, … Continue reading Did post-colonialism leave a drug vacuum?
Unbox and find a shared purpose
To put people into boxes is human. We commonly categorise people by nationality, ethnicity, age, hair colour, class, educational level, job etc. These categories, bring people together, but they also divide. So why don't we take ourselves out of these boxes, and instead, take a look at what makes us human and how we can … Continue reading Unbox and find a shared purpose