Perhaps it is impossible to separate the placebo effect, but since it is a component of all treatments, it should be possible to factor it out (I am not a statistition, so forgive me if I use terms incorrectly). I can't help but wonder what IRBs would have to say about it. I mean, if the HT practitioners had to submit a proposal to your IRB, would it pass? In my opinion, studies (and treatments) that do not provide scientific value are a waste of time--a cost in itself.
I know you were kidding, but I also don't see a problem with adding the warning statement that you came up with, maybe not as a large warning sign, but maybe as a postscript to advertising and promotional materials. I kinda like the idea of a sandwich board...I wonder what kind of a slogan you could come up with. : ) Carol -----Original Message----- From: Jean-Marc Perreault [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 12:59 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences Subject: Re: healing touch I find what you say to be very interesting, but how does one leave out the placebo effect? It's like talking about drinking wine and it's effects on health, alcohol notwithstanding... I'm not a placebo specialist, but it seems like an impossible task to separate the placebo from any treatment at all, be it pharmaceutical, alternative, or else. One can measure the placebo effect, for sure, but one cannot dissociate it from the treatment itself. I do agree that if the practitioners claim they can "cure" ailments that should receive more conventional treatment, then it is a major issue. I also agree that with the institution sponsoring such events, they are giving HT credibility, which could lead to false beliefs. So, should I ask the Counselling Centre to put up a large warning sign, that would go along the lines of: "Warning. the College in no way supports the claims that HT has been demonstrated to be beneficial to your health. We simply want to offer you alternatives, be them good, neutral, or bad"... hehehe... That would be something! I could always wear a sandwich board each time they show up... ;-) Cheers! JM DeVolder Carol L wrote: >It becomes even more costly when people begin to treat it as a bona >fide treatment and replace other potentially successful interventions >with ones that have no scientific merit. Inviting practioners of HT to >a campus appears to give it credibility. Is it right to offer false >hope (the placebo effect notwithstanding)? >Carol > > > >Carol DeVolder, Ph.D. >Professor of Psychology >Chair, Department of Psychology >St. Ambrose University >Davenport, Iowa 52803 > >phone: 563-333-6482 >e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Jean-Marc Perreault [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 12:15 PM >To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences >Subject: Re: healing touch > >Hi Marie, > I've really enjoyed the discussion so far. And I would >like to ask you further: What are the possible negative conseqences to >actually engaging in a few sessions of HT? Granted that the HT >practionners do not attempt to "fix" anything major, which is what they >said they would do (or not do, depending how you read it...) I brought >the topic up with the counsellor who is setting the whole thing up, and >in the end, she said: "well, what harm can this possibly do? In the >end, students will end up more relaxed in times of stress (semester), >which can only prove useful. The placebo effect can be just as good as >anything else. And as there is no cost attached, neither to the >students nor the College, then hey!" (I'm restating what I can recall >from our discussion). > >Her reply sort of left me wondering, "Hey... maybe she's right. Placebo >effect does work, and if students end up relaxing, then so much the >better"! The place where I still have a hard time is the distribution >of information that makes it look like HT has scientific backing. The >handout sure looks good. Short of going on a crusade to distribute >contradictory information, I'm left wondering what to do about it. I >will certainly bring the topic up n class, but I only reach so many >students. > >Another interesting issue (which some of you who work in small places >might relate to) is the fact that the College where I work is very >small, in a small city (22,000 people). Basically, I happen to know the >person in charge of the HT who will be coming up, and she happens to be >a good friend of the counsellor who is setting the whole thing up. So, >how far does one go to rebute indivuduals who are very close to one's >social circle? They are not personal friends, but the typical 6 degrees >of separation found in most cities is cut down by a factor of about 6 >around here... Everyone knows everyone through less than 1 person >around here. So... short of getting into a situation that will end up >in a feud, what does one do? Logic cannot be used. It's like faith. How >does one argue against it? I know there are review papers that state >that HT is not supported by science, but there are papers that state it >is (I know, you'll say they are not as good as those stating there is >no backing). Nevertheless, it becomes tenuous to make them apart, >especially if one does not have the science background to tear them >apart. > >Anyhow, looking forward to the discussion still... This is proving to >be a very interesting situation for me... > >Jean-Marc > > > >--- >You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To >unsubscribe send a blank email to >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
