Menopause Treatment: The placebo effect
When you are exploring alternatives to conventional treatment for the menopause, it is helpful to be aware of the importance that psychological factors play, not only in giving rise to symptoms, but also in determining a patient’s response to a treatment.
Studies have shown that patient’s expectations concerning a treatment, their experience of the treatment and their attitudes towards their health care provider can all affect the impact a treatment has. Such factors as these can all be brought together under the term ‘placebo effect’. This is the therapeutic impact of ‘non-specific’ or ‘incidental’ treatment ingredients, as opposed to the therapeutic impact that can be directly attributed to a specific, characteristic action of the treatment. Despite a lack of understanding of the exact mechanisms through which the placebo effect may operate, research clearly shows that the effect exists and can have a significant impact on health.
When reviewing the evidence for therapies for menopausal symptoms, it can be difficult to find studies of complementary therapies compared with placebo.Such lack of evidence may be partly due to lack of investment in research, but also lies in a belief amongst some practitioners that in studying such therapies it is difficult to have a control group which is blind to the therapy as complementary therapies often consist of many components and may include therapeutic processes which are unique.
It is also important to recognise that menopausal symptoms are usually, by their nature, self-limiting and will generally improve over time.
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