Placebo responses to medical device therapy for pain

D. M. Long, S. Uematsu, R. B. Kouba

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Placebo response to a functionless machine was tested in 58 patients with chronic pain. Thirteen discontinued treatment before the planned trials were complete: 5 did so because sham therapy worsened their pain. Forty-five patients completed three trials of treatment with a magnetic device, one trial of which was a sham. Thirteen percent of patients undergoing sham therapy experienced relief of pain, improved range of motion, and decrease in muscle spasm. Eleven percent of the sham trials resulted in significant increase in pain. The placebo/nocebo response to sham therapy with a device is similar to that previously reported for prolonged drug treatment, but is lower than the placebo rate for short-term medication trials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)149-156
Number of pages8
JournalStereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
Volume53
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1989

Keywords

  • Pain
  • medical device
  • placebo response

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Clinical Neurology

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