The use of placebos is controversial, researchers at the NIH ( National Institute of Health) surveyed 1200 internists and rheumatologists to examine the doctors' attitudes towards and the use of placebo treatments in the US.
679 physicians returned the survey questionnaires, half said they prescribed placebo treatments on a regular basis, 62% believed the practice ethically acceptable and were happy to recommend or prescribe placebo treatments. 68% of those prescribe placebo drugs said that they describe the placebo treatments to patients as "a potentially beneficial medicine or treatment not typically used for their condidtion", only a small number of physicians inform patients of the placebo treatment.
The most commonly prescribed placebo treatments were painkillers (41%) or vitamins (38%), some prescribed antibiotics (13%) and sedatives (13%), a few using sugar pills.
The authors concluded that precribing painkillers or vitamins to promote positive expections may not raise serious concerns but prescribing antibiotics and sedatives when they are not clearly indicated could have adverse effects for patients and public health.
Some doctors said the survey is misleading and the conclusions need disputed.
Source: "Prescribing "placebo treatments": results of national survey of US internists and rheumatologists" BMJ 2008;337:a1938 ( f/t via Athens)
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