Genetics May Help Explain Placebo Effect, Researchers Say

The placebo effect is when a patient is given a treatment that they believe will help their condition, however the actually treatment has not really been proven to work (Freeman 2012). According to researchers, a patient's response to a placebo is based largely on genetics. In a trial dealing with irritable bowel syndrome, patients were given what they believed to be acupuncture treatment. One group received no treatment at all, a second group received fake acupuncture with little or no face to face contact with the specialist, and a third group received the same fake acupuncture, but was given more interaction with the acupunturist.



What was found was that patients containing two copies of the allele methionine showed a positive response to the placebo. Patients with two copies of the valine allele were less likely to response to the placebo. Interestingly, even the patients who contained the two alleles of methionine responded better to the fake acupuncture when they had more interaction with the caregiver. This suggests that personal interaction may have something to do with the response.

I would like to read more about the genetic relationship that the placebo effect has when used in the treatment of a different syndrome. I am skeptical because irritable bowel syndrome has been shown to be anxiety related, therefore the results could have been due to the patient feeling more relaxed about having received a treatment, or about speaking to a physician. The results may be different if the patients were instead complaining of arthritis, or something else musculoskeletal.

Freeman S. How the placebo effect works. 2012. [Internet.] http://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/medication/placebo-effect.htm