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Placebos and their Psychological Effects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 January 2018

Derrick S. Trouton
Derrick S. Trouton*
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, Maudsley Hospital, London
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Extract

Although numerous instances of the surprising efficacy of placebos in a wide variety of conditions have been reported lately, little has yet been done towards providing an explanation of the occurrence of placebo reactions in terms of psychology. In what follows, the main findings concerning placebos will first be described, and then an attempt made to relate them to psychological theory. Even if this attempt is premature, it may succeed in showing the need for further work and in suggesting what directions this might take.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Mental Science , Volume 103 , Issue 431 , April 1957 , pp. 344 - 354
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1957 

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