Placebo effects differ depending on gender
The effects of placebos on patients depend on the gender of the patient and the doctor administering the drug, according to a recent study conducted at the University of Tuebingen. Women generally tend to respond better to placebos then men, the study suggests.
Working with patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, university professor Dr. Paul Enck and his team discovered that patients tend to trust female more than male doctors when receiving a placebo.
Used in clinical trials, placebos are a type of medical therapy that has little or no therapeutic effect other than the "placebo effect," or positive results caused by a patient believing in the treatment.
In some of Enck's studies, as many as 84% of the patients responded to the placebo, in other studies that number was just 3%. Enck has been looking at why such a great discrepancy exists in these figures, especially with regard to irritable bowel syndrome.
Placebos had greater success when dispensed by doctors with additional qualifications in psychotherapy, Enck's study found. Women also respond more positively to the drug placebo than men. Every other female patient responded to the placebo, while only every fifth male saw his condition improved upon taking the non-drug.
The research was published in the current edition of "German Medical Weekly" (Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift).
Link to further information: Professor Paul Enck of the University of Tuebingen
Source: German Information Center - www.germany.info/gic
Region: Southern Germany
Print page
Back
