Placebos without Deception: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Ted J. Kaptchuk; Elizabeth Friedlander; John M. Kelley; M. Norma Sanchez; Efi Kokkotou; Joyce P. Singer; Magda Kowalczykowski; Franklin G. Miller; Irving Kirsch; Anthony J. Lembo

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0015591

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Open Access

Peer-reviewed

Research Article

Placebos without Deception: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Ted J. Kaptchuk ,

* E-mail: ted_kaptchuk@hms.harvard.edu

Affiliations Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Osher Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
⨯
Elizabeth Friedlander,

Affiliation Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
⨯
John M. Kelley,

Affiliations Psychology Department, Endicott College, Beverly, Massachusetts, United States of America, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
⨯
M. Norma Sanchez,

Affiliation Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
⨯
Efi Kokkotou,

Affiliation Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
⨯
Joyce P. Singer,

Affiliation Osher Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
⨯
Magda Kowalczykowski,

Affiliation Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
⨯
Franklin G. Miller,

Affiliation Department of Bioethics, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
⨯
Irving Kirsch,

Affiliation Department of Psychology, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
⨯
Anthony J. Lembo

Affiliation Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
⨯

Placebos without Deception: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Ted J. Kaptchuk,
Elizabeth Friedlander,
John M. Kelley,
M. Norma Sanchez,
Efi Kokkotou,
Joyce P. Singer,
Magda Kowalczykowski,
Franklin G. Miller,
Irving Kirsch,
Anthony J. Lembo

Published: December 22, 2010
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0015591

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Could avicel be active?

Posted by A1kmm on 23 Dec 2010 at 23:42 GMT

avicel
http://plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0015591#article1.body1.sec2.sec3.p1

One possibility that is not discussed is that avicel (microcrystalline cellulose) could, despite being a biochemically inert substance in human, have a therapeutic effect. Increasing fibre intake appears to be a widely studied and prescribed therapy for IBS, and so this brings into question the choice of a using a cellulose fibre placebo (or alternatively, the choice of disease on which the study was carried out).

No competing interests declared.

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Irritable bowel syndrome
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Quality of life
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Placebos without Deception: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Placebos without Deception: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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Could avicel be active?

Posted by A1kmm on 23 Dec 2010 at 23:42 GMT