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We know the placebo effect is biological. Is it also genetic?

#1
C C Offline
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2018/...o-genetic/

EXCERPT: . . . in clinical trials over the last several years [...] the placebo effect has appeared to get 'stronger,' meaning that the magnitude of its effect has increased. What this looks like in practice is that the response of the group of subjects in a clinical trial which receives the placebo compared to the actual drug looks remarkably similar to the treatment group (getting the actual drug). This makes it very difficult in some cases to advance new drug therapies, because if the placebo 'arm' of the clinical trial performs so well, then the actual drug therapy has a harder time meeting the criteria for statistical significance in doing better than the placebo—which is a requirement for approval to market the drug.

[...] the placebo effect appears to depend on a combination of verbal suggestions, observational cues and conditioning which together create expectations that activate the brain’s reward system. When people believe that a placebo is a real drug, brains produce more dopamine, a brain chemical strongly associated with reward and pleasure. So the biological effects of a placebo are similar to those of other pleasurable experiences, such as eating when hungry or drinking when thirsty.

Some new research shows an association that at least part suggests the placebo effect has a basis in human genetics as well as human biology. The researchers looked at different gene variants of a gene called 'COMT' which regulates the level of dopamine in the brain. They found a correlation between higher-dopamine variants of the gene and likelihood to report a placebo response.

MORE: https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2018/...o-genetic/
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#2
Syne Offline
"The assumption is that placebo represents the lack of treatment, but the placebo group is still receiving treatment, sham pills, check-ups, observation, etc."

No, that's an ignorant assumption. But comparing what the mind alone can do for the body is an effective measure of drug efficacy. The article seems to be trying to make the argument that drugs should only be tested against no treatment at all, which I'm sure the pharmaceutical industry would love. Then their drugs could take credit for placebo effects.
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