Osteoarthritis has a placebo problem, and it’s challenging both research and clinical practice

From Medscape Medical News, 18 June 2025: At the recent World Congress on Osteoarthritis (OARSI) 2025 Annual Meeting in Incheon, South Korea, speaker after speaker presented on studies that were carefully designed to identify even the smallest benefit of interventions, including drugs, physical therapy, exercise therapy, and even surgery, compared with placebo. And in many cases, the Continue reading Osteoarthritis has a placebo problem, and it’s challenging both research and clinical practice

Placebos more effective than mere sugar pills

From ABC Health and Wellbeing, 10 November 2013: Over the years, the placebo has earned an unfair reputation as an instrument of medical fakery; a white lie to convince unsuspecting patients they are being treated when in fact their treatment is nothing more than a sugar pill or surgical sleight of hand. However growing evidence Continue reading Placebos more effective than mere sugar pills