Scientists point out that if you use memory you can expect effects beyond real drugs even in placebo

Using a lie's medicine etc., bring out the same effect as a real medicine in the bodyPlacebo (placebo)Although the effect is very strong, it may cause beneficial side effects more than actually doing surgery, but because treatment modalities are not established, it is said that it is difficult to apply treatment using placebo at the actual medical site It is. According to German researchers, it is reported that if you give the same stimulus after drinking placebo after giving a strong impression of taking medicine to the brain, you can expect the same effect as medicine.

Learned immunosuppressive placebo responses in renal transplant patients | PNAS
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2018/03/27/1720548115

Training plus a placebo may make a drug more effective | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/04/training-plus-a-placebo-may-make-a-drug-more-effective/

In a study by Duisburg Essen University 's Julia Kirchhoff et al., We describe a treatment that utilizes the placebo effect to enhance the effect of regular drug therapy. According to the procedure shown in the study, first let the subject impress the taste with a characteristic taste drink etc. when taking the drug. After that, we took "dramatics" and "placebo" at the same time, together with the drink I drank first. Then, when the amount of medicine taken by the subject decreased, it turned out that medicine effect was found to occur. In addition, although the subjects seemed to have accurately grasped all the contents of the experiment beforehand, it was reported that there was still an effect.

For example, the immunosuppressant cyclosporin A isImmune systemIt is a potent drug that is useful for patients who have undergone organ transplantation or have strong autoimmune disorders. However, cyclosporine A not only affects the immune system, but it may cause side effects that cause deterioration of renal function and hypertension, for example. Side effects such as renal function and hypertension are regarded as irrelevant to suppression of the immune system, but no means have been discovered that can only affect immune cells in the body at the time of article creation. Therefore, when taking immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporin A, it is necessary to carefully consider the balance between effect and toxicity.

According to Kirchhoff et al. 'S paper, the experiment was conducted over 8 days, and 30 patients (24 males and 6 females) who underwent kidney transplantation received a normal amount of immunosuppressive drug on the first day It was administered twice in the morning and afternoon, and blood was collected at the timing of 11, 15 and 19 o'clock. After that, we will administer the usual dose of immunosuppressant along with a characteristic taste drink. After 2 days of rest, on the 7th day, "drinks and medicines" and "drinks and placebo" were administered twice, and after the administration of "drinks and medicines" only once in the morning on the last day, And placebo "twice and collect the patient's blood at the same timing as on the first day. Then we compared the blood samples from day 1 and day 8.


Then, compared with the blood on day 1, people who ingested placebo on the 8th day, although taking only half of the immunosuppressive drugs, the cells responding to the foreign body that entered the body IsT cellsIt seems that the growth of about 30% was reduced. Also,Signal transductionGamma form as a moleculeinterferonHas also been confirmed to have decreased slightly.

The patients were aware of when the placebo was administered during this experiment, but they showed that the brain responds to the taste of drinks, or that the effect of immunosuppressive drugs was enhanced by the placebo effect It has been. In addition, there was no particular difference in the significance depending on the sex of the subject.

Kirchhoff et al. Research team from past research, placebo effect isNoradrenalinIt was understood that it is caused by the release of a signaling molecule called so. However, there were no changes in the subjects' noradrenaline, and for some patientsNoradrenalinTo suppressbeta blockerI know that I was taking. Furthermore, it was found that the effect of the experiment did not change even when comparing patients taking beta-blockers with those who did not take the beta blocker, and the effect shown in this experiment is the same as in the human body I do not know if it is created by working with such a mechanism.

Also, in order to establish this method as a treatment method using a placebo effect, there are many remaining problems to be solved such as "How much can the effect be maintained?" "Is there a way to sustain the placebo effect for a long time?" I will. However, as the result shown this time is a useful method that can be expected to suppress the occurrence of side effects caused by a toxic drug, establishment of a treatment method by long-term examination is desired.