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Correlates of placebo reaction in an outpatient population

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Arthur K. Shapiro
Affiliation:
Special Studies Laboratory, Payne Whitney Clinic, New York Hospital—Cornell University Medical College, New York, Epidemiology of Mental Disorders Research Unit, New York State Department of Mental Hygiene, New York, U.S.A.
Elmer L. Struening
Affiliation:
Special Studies Laboratory, Payne Whitney Clinic, New York Hospital—Cornell University Medical College, New York, Epidemiology of Mental Disorders Research Unit, New York State Department of Mental Hygiene, New York, U.S.A.
Harvey Barten
Affiliation:
Special Studies Laboratory, Payne Whitney Clinic, New York Hospital—Cornell University Medical College, New York, Epidemiology of Mental Disorders Research Unit, New York State Department of Mental Hygiene, New York, U.S.A.
Elaine Shapiro
Affiliation:
Special Studies Laboratory, Payne Whitney Clinic, New York Hospital—Cornell University Medical College, New York, Epidemiology of Mental Disorders Research Unit, New York State Department of Mental Hygiene, New York, U.S.A.

Synopsis

Variable s describing 113 outpatients of a mental health clinic were derived from a Placebo Test, the MMPI, a Symptom Check List, measures of response style, and a questionnaire containing historical and demographic information. Two highly reliable scales, the Placebo Effect Scale (PES) and the Side Effect Scale (SES) were derived from the Placebo Test and served as dependent variables. PES scores were inversely related to reporting symptoms and unrelated to measures of response style. SES scores were directly related to reporting symptoms and with several measures of response style. There was a curvilinear relationship between placebo response and reporting side-effects. Implications of results for further research are presented.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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