Quote:
Originally Posted by David Bailey  I have a suspicion that this may be the heart of the problem. Splitting people into two groups and just telling one lot to go home (and not seek out any other treatment!) may be very hard. |
Yes. Also are they told
'do not seek any other treatment' ? If not they could be on some 'alternative' placebo
I think to pacify the patient who might be concerned at receiving no treatment, the person interacting with patient is under pressure to say something like
'no treatment is actually required at the present time' and the patient thinks
'ahh, that is good news, the doc says I am doing OK without treatment, he thinks it will improve by itself ' No treatment under certain circumstances could be a good placebo too