Are the Clinical Effects of Homoeopathy Placebo Effects? Comparative Study of Placebo-controlled Trials of Homoeopathy and Allopathy

The use of testosterone in older men, known as male hormonal replacement therapy or androgen replacement therapy, has become of increasing interest to both the medical and lay communities over the past decade. Even though the knowledge of the potential benefits and risks of male Androgen Replacement Therapy has increased dramatically, there is still much that needs to be determined. Although there are a number of potential benefits of male Androgen Replacement Therapy and data concerning clinical effects of such replacement have accumulated, as yet there have not been any large multicenter randomized controlled trials of this therapy. It is the purpose of this article to review what is currently known about the possible risks and benefits of male Androgen Replacement Therapy by discussing the clinical trials to date.

Download Full-text

Placebo interventions, placebo effects and clinical practice

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.2010.0383 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 366 (1572) ◽

pp. 1905-1912 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Klaus Linde ◽

Margrit Fässler ◽

Karin Meissner

Keyword(s):

Clinical Practice ◽

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Context Effects ◽

Clinical Investigation ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Placebo Effects ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Placebo Intervention ◽

Therapeutic Context

This article reviews the role of placebo interventions and placebo effects in clinical practice. We first describe the relevance of different perspectives among scientists, physicians and patients on what is considered a placebo intervention in clinical practice. We then summarize how placebo effects have been investigated in randomized controlled trials under the questionable premise that such effects are produced by placebo interventions. We further discuss why a shift of focus from the placebo intervention to the overall therapeutic context is necessary and what research methods can be used for the clinical investigation of the relevance of context effects. In the last part of the manuscript, we discuss why placebo or context effects are seen as positive in clinical practice when they are associated with active treatments, while placebo interventions pose major ethical and professional problems and have to be avoided.

Download Full-text

I) Introduction

VASA ◽

10.1024/0301-1526.32.s63.3 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 32 (Supplement 63) ◽

pp. 3-6

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Current Practice ◽

Compression Therapy ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Clinical Effects ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Venous Diseases ◽

Based Medicine ◽

Near Future ◽

Venous Disorders

Background. The use of compression therapy is mainly based on tradition and experience. Randomized controlled trials demonstrating clinical effects in different indications are rare or non-existing. A clear proof of effectiveness for different compression devices endorsed by evidence based medicine will be a prerequisite for reimbursement by health budgets in the near future. Against this background a group of experts has discussed and approved the following position document under the auspices of the International Union of Phlebology. Indications for compression therapy in phlebology and lymphology are mainly: 1. Chronic venous disorders (CEAP C0-C6 ) (1) 2. Acute venous diseases 3. Lymphoedema. The following 3 questions are discussed for every single indication: ¥ What is done? (Current practice and rationale) ¥ What do we know? (Level of recommendation based on present knowledge) ¥ What do we need to know? (Proposals for randomized controlled trials on compression therapy)

Download Full-text