JAMA Internal Medicine: Psychosocial Issues Topic Collection

Clinical and Ethical Aspects of Placebos in Clinical Practice

Marcus DM. — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Editorial by Avins concerning the article by Vickers et al is fair and balanced except for 2 comments. Avins^(p1455) states that

Clinical and Ethical Aspects of Placebos in Clinical Practice—Reply

Avins AL. — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

In reply

Complexity of Sham Acupuncture

Huang W, Kutner N, Bliwise D. — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

While we are convinced that real acupuncture is superior to both sham and no-acupuncture control for various chronic pain conditions, as carefully reviewed in 29 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (17 922 patients) by Vickers et al, the authors of that article also acknowledge that acupuncture, both real and sham, is likely to be associated with additional potent placebo and context effects, contributing to the total effects of acupuncture experienced by patients in routine practice.