Mitigation of adverse consequences
INFECTIONS TOE
Our focus groups raised a number of potential adverse consequences of clinical placebo use. These might include patients considering themselves treated through placebos and consequently taking less precaution about spreading their infections to others or failing to seek further help if symptoms worsen. An additional concern is that placebo prescribing for conditions not necessitating any medical treatment might result in an increase of health-seeking behaviours, potentially increasing patient demand for doctors’ appointments. All these consequences could undermine the overall practical utility of clinical placebo use and need to be monitored carefully in any clinical trials.