C[omp]ute

From: "andrew cooke" <andrew@...>

Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2006 22:19:38 -0400 (CLT)

There's a good discussion here -
http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/reprint/178/3/192.pdf - that discusses placebos
and medication for depression.  The most important point is that
medication DOES WORK; the second most important point is that much (most)
of that effect may come through a combination of the placebo effect and a
self-selecting bias (depression is cyclical and people tend to seek help
at the lowest point).

Here's the link that started me looking for info - a good example of not
really getting the whole placebo thing -
http://metatalk.metafilter.com/mefi/12248

See also:
http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2005/placebo.htm
http://www.ampainsoc.org/advocacy/pdf/placebo.pdf

Andrew