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Placebo Effects: The Meaning of Care in Medicine

  • Book
  • © 2020

Overview

Authors:
  1. Pekka Louhiala

    1. University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

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  • The first book that explores the conceptual confusion related to the concepts placebo and placebo effect
  • Performs a detailed analysis of the use and different meanings of the terms ‘placebo’ and ‘placebo effect’ in scientific and philosophical literature
  • Studies the historical context in which these concepts were introduced into the medical vocabulary

Part of the book series: The International Library of Bioethics (ILB)

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Table of contents (6 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction

    • Pekka Louhiala
    Pages 1-17

  3. The Concepts

    • Pekka Louhiala
    Pages 19-39

  4. Placebo Effects

    • Pekka Louhiala
    Pages 41-97

  5. Clinical Use of Placebos

    • Pekka Louhiala
    Pages 99-120

  6. Placebo Research and Clinical Practice

    • Pekka Louhiala
    Pages 121-130

  7. Conclusions

    • Pekka Louhiala
    Pages 131-134
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Keywords

About this book

This book provides a perspective on the concepts placebo and placebo effects, which has been missing so far: a detailed analysis of the history of the terms, their current use, suggested alternatives and the implications of the conceptual confusion. Everybody knows something about placebos and placebo effects. If, however, people are asked to define the concepts, the spectrum becomes wide. Does 'placebo' refer to an inert treatment or does it cover all elements of the patient-physician-interaction except for pharmacological or other physiological mechanisms? Furthermore, if, by definition, a placebo has no effect, what sense does it make to talk about a 'placebo effect'? Even in scientific literature the concepts ‘placebo’ and ‘placebo effect’ are used in many senses and often in a confusing way. While this book discusses many issues which keep puzzling physicians, it also covers the historical developments of the concepts of placebo and placebo effect as wellas the conceptual confusion in the definitions. This book is intended for physicians, philosophers, psychologists and any other people interested in placebos, placebo effects and the physician-patient relationship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Pekka Louhiala

About the author

Pekka Louhiala is a lecturer in medical ethics at the University of Helsinki, Finland. He has degrees in both medicine and philosophy, and he also works as a part-time paediatrician in private practice. He has published on various topics in medical ethics, philosophy of medicine and epidemiology. His current academic interests include conceptual and philosophical issues in medicine, such as evidence-based medicine and placebo effects.

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