Placebo Effect Discovered
Hundreds of wounded soldiers are waiting to be treated. There is a shortage of supplies, especially morphine. You hear the agonizing sounds of pain, realizing you do not have many options. As a last resort, you load a syringe with salt water and inject it into the patient. The injection is inert, it cannot possibly do anything for the wounded soldier. But, astonishingly, the soldier is relieved and somehow this treatment has prevented the onset of shock. This is the story of a lie told by an Army nurse during World War II that led to the discovery of the placebo effect. The placebo effect is commonly known as the benefits associated with an individual’s perception of treatment, when they are given an inert, chemically inactive, substance.
Argument: Placebos vs. Antidepressants
Placebo pills should be utilized more than antidepressants for patients with mild to moderate depression since antidepressants and placebos seem to have a similar effect in patients with mild depression. In addition, the placebo effect should be included more in medical practice due to its supposed benefits, as long as deception is not included in its administration. This website supports the idea that the placebo effect is a better alternative to antidepressants, which can cause harm through side effects.
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