El efecto placebo en pacientes con depresión

Abstract

Randomized placebo controlled trials are the gold standard in clinical trials. Placebos are used to control the psychological effects when a specific physical treatment is being supplied in a particular condition. The role of the patient’s expectations and conditioning has been mentioned in the production of this placebo effect, although there is little research in the process implied. The available literature about this topic was reviewed and only one article was found, that article has some methodological biases but is a starting point on research on this topic, and somehow it affirms the previous expectation that placebo effect occurs in direct relationship with the morbid process and individual characteristics of patients rather than a specific consequence of a general production mechanism.