Gowdey C W
Can Med Assoc J. 1983 Apr 15;128(8):921-5.
The placebo effect is capable of relieving pain in a substantial proportion of patients; affective disorders also respond to the administration of inert medication. Changes in objective measures, such as blood pressure and blood glucose levels, demonstrate the action of placebos. The underlying mechanisms are not yet known, but because the nature and strength of the placebo response are governed by the patient's perceptions, both positive and negative results may be obtained. The complexity of human perception has made it extremely difficult to characterize the people who react. In clinical situations the placebo may be underused as a therapeutic agent, while in clinical trials the effect may be inadequately evaluated; the power and nature of the placebo effect truly warrant greater recognition.
安慰剂效应能够在相当一部分患者中缓解疼痛；情感障碍对给予惰性药物也有反应。诸如血压和血糖水平等客观指标的变化证实了安慰剂的作用。其潜在机制尚不清楚，但由于安慰剂反应的性质和强度受患者认知的支配，所以可能会得到积极和消极两种结果。人类认知的复杂性使得很难对有反应的人群进行特征描述。在临床情况下，安慰剂作为一种治疗手段可能未得到充分利用，而在临床试验中，其效果可能未得到充分评估；安慰剂效应的作用和性质确实值得更多的认识。
