I don't know who needs to hear this today, but the placebo effect probably isn't real and mostly describes common statistical failings of scientific research
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To put it another way: Roses are red, Violets are green, The placebo effect is mostly just regression to the mean
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Replying to @GidMK
This idea was a bombshell for me when I first learned of it. I think the placebo effect holds up pretty well in some domains though. Hard to imagine 2.6% weight loss being attributable to regression to the mean. http://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1411892 …pic.twitter.com/FeO2fswOpN
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Replying to @whsource
Regression to the mean perhaps not, but there are also study effects to consider. Most people don't have a study nurse following up their weight and HbA1c every week for a year!
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Replying to @GidMK
OK, I missed something important: "both groups received counseling on lifestyle modification" So this example isn't actually informative
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Fair enough, but even if there was no counseling, there's abundant evidence that being enrolled in a study changes people's behaviourhttps://catalogofbias.org/biases/hawthorne-effect/ …
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