Published online Jun 18, 2015. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v6.i5.416
Peer-review started: February 6, 2015
First decision: March 6, 2015
Revised: April 28, 2015
Accepted: May 5, 2015
Article in press: May 6, 2015
Published online: June 18, 2015
Processing time: 133 Days and 13.9 Hours
Osteoarthritis is a major cause of pain and reduced quality of life in the elderly, as well as a major economic burden. Unfortunately, there is no currently effective therapeutic strategy to prevent the progression of Osteoarthritis, and its treatment poses a great challenge to the medical community. Most of the treatment modalities currently available for osteoarthritis have small to moderate effect sizes, according to main meta-analyses and treatment guidelines. On the other hand, literature has demonstrated that placebo is considerably effective. The present article discusses the history of placebo effect and its scientific evidence, comments on ethical issues and provides insights about how it may be used to our advantage when treating osteoarthritic patients.
Core tip: Osteoarthritis is a major cause of pain and reduced quality of life in the elderly population, as well as an economic burden. Unfortunately, there is no currently effective treatment, and most of them show small to moderate effect sizes, according to main meta-analyses. On the other hand, literature has demonstrated that placebo has a considerable effect size in osteoarthritis clinical trials. So why not use it to our advantage?