Placebo Effects in Neurology delves into the intriguing phenomenon of placebos and their profound impact on neurological disorders. This book explores how placebo effects, occurring both in clinical trials and real-world practice, influence therapeutic outcomes, doctor-patient relationships, and symptom perception. The content provides insights into psychobiological mechanisms and specific conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and migraine while addressing ethical and methodological concerns. With discussions on both deceptive and open-label placebos, the book invites readers to reconsider the potential of this underappreciated tool in neurology, offering a bridge between scientific research and practical application in the treatment of various conditions.
Beyond its focus on placebo mechanisms, the book examines their role in alleviating symptoms of neuropathic pain, peripheral neuropathies, fatigue, and neuropsychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety. It also presents a methodological lens on how placebos are used to validate treatments in trials while debating their ethical implications. By weaving together science, ethics, and practical insights, Placebo Effects in Neurology stands out as a compelling resource for clinicians, researchers, and anyone interested in the nuanced intersection of psychology and neurology.
- Reviews placebo effects for individual neurological and psychiatric disorders
- Covers benefits in therapeutic outcomes, symptom perception, and doctor-patient relationships
- Discusses the psychobiological mechanisms of how placebos work
- Considers minimizing placebo and nocebo effects in clinical trials
Prof. Fabrizio Benedetti, MD is Professor of Neurophysiology and Human Physiology at the University of Turin Medical School, Italy, and Director of Medicine and Physiology of Hypoxia at Plateau Rosą, Switzerland. He identified the basic mechanisms of placebo and nocebo effects across a number of medical conditions and therapeutic interventions, including pain, Parkinson’s disease, the endocrine system and oxygen-dependent critical life functions. He has been a consultant and advisor at NIH, NIMH, NIDA, NCCAM and at Harvard University since 2000. He is recipient of the 2009 Medical Book Award of the BMA, the 2012 Seymour Solomon Award of the American Headache Society, and the 2015 William S Kroger Award of Behavioral Medicine from the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. In 2023 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Society for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies. He is currently on the editorial boards for Current Neuropharmacology and Canadian Jrnl of Pain.
Prof. Aziz Shaibani, MD is clinical Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and the director of the Nerve and Muscle Centre of Texas. He is board certified in Neurology, neuromuscular medicine, neurophysiology, electrodiagnostic medicine and clinical neuromuscular pathology. He was president of the Texas Neurological society and VP of the neuromuscular section of the American Academy of Neurology. He has been the principal investigator of 145 clinical trials funded by pharmaceutical companies and NIH. He is on the ed board of Practical neurology and serves as a reviewer for the Lancet, BMJ, Neurology, Neurology genetics, and Muscle and Nerve. He is a past recipient of PROSE and BMA awards for best medical book and has been elected to the list of the “best doctors in America since 2009.
