Meaning, Medicine and the 'Placebo Effect'

Cambridge Studies in Medical Anthropology

by Daniel E. Moerman

Traditionally, the effectiveness of medical treatments is attributed to specific elements, such as drugs or surgical procedures. However, many other factors can significantly effect the outcome. Drugs with nationally advertised names can work better than the same drug without the name. Inert drugs (placebos, dummies) often have dramatic effects on some patients and effects can vary greatly among different European countries where the "same" medical condition is understood differently. Daniel Moerman traverses a complex subject area in this detailed examination of medical variables. Since 1993, Cambridge Studies in Medical Anthropology has offered researchers and instructors monographs and edited collections of leading scholarship in one of the most lively and popular subfields of cultural and social anthropology. Beginning in 2002, the CSMA series presents theme booksworks that synthesize emerging scholarship from relatively new subfields or that reinterpret the literature of older ones. Designed as course material for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and for professionals in related areas (physicians, nurses, public health workers, and medical sociologists), these theme books will demonstrate how work in medical anthropology is carried out and convey the importance of a given topic for a wide variety of readers. About 160 pages in length, the theme books are not simply staid reviews of the literature. They are, instead, new ways of conceptualizing topics in medical anthropology that take advantage of current research and the growing edges of the field.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Medicine, Health, Psychology, Anthropology

182 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[LWDC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out with the placebo and in with meaning... Getting well is not about pleasing somebody who we have allowed to be influential... We must first construct our own arena for the meaning of the situation to be placed into...

[Melissa Kidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this book. When I first bought it for class I wasn’t sure but I did end up engaged in the topics. I’ve never really thought much about the Placebo effect or how culture and different meanings can affect how effective we think medicine can be. And how effective we think it will be can actually effect how effective it really is. I know I was aware of this but never have I really thought about it. It’s fascinating science. I will never think about the simple act of taking Advil for a headache the same again. We have these ideas that shots work better than pills and that surgery works better than shots and that red pills stimulate us more than blue pills and that bigger or more pills work better. And, really, it’s mostly just in our head. We are tricking ourselves every day. We are allowing ourselves to be tricked every day. I would recommend this book to EVERYONE. I think having the knowledge of regression to mean, the meaning response, what exactly the placebo effect is or is not, cultural relativism, etc. could help a lot of people make more educated choices about their health and wellbeing.

[Melissa Doordaughter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well now, you wanna have your mind blown? This is a keeper a re-reader, an eye opener. 100 percent recommend this to anyone interested in well-being .

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for a project at work. It's mind blowing. The human brain is strange and amazing.

[Will Meurer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting work reviewing the anthropology of the placebo effect (or better said, the meaning effect.) Just as shots work better than pills, and expensive pills work better than pills you can get a giant bin of for $5, the mystique of medical treatments and their newness or recognition has a lot to do with their effect. Robot assisted surgery is better than plain surgery, and robot assisted minimally invasive surgery has totally got to work. Moerman seems to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder regarding physicians. One story remarked on how a lecturing doctor took 5 minutes in front of a class of medical students to change from his regular suit coat to his white coat. While this sort of behavior is kind of ridiculous, I don't think it is reflective of modern day clinician educators. Overall, a very worthwhile read.

[Jeanette Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deep understanding of cultural, psychological and social factors that influence our experience of medical treatments is portrayed in a very readable way.

The treating physician's expectations, vision and beliefs are also examined and married with those of the patient to depict how the medicine is the least important feature of the treatment.

A good read for those frustrated with their health care providers and health care management.

An empowering experience for those who want to own their part in their sickness and cures.

[Angela Randall]

Recommended as further reading by Ben Goldacre in Bad Science.

[Samantha Stroiazzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking and informative. I only found a single part where my bias got the better of me and I felt like throwing the book but I think that one part is worth more to me know since it forced me to think harder about the subject at hand.