Contextual effects clarified

There is the treatment itself … and then there is the context in which it happens, the messy halo of variables that surround and influence it, the “contextual effects” of the treatment.

All of which is chronically misunderstood and underestimated! For instance, contextual effects are similar to the placebo response, but they aren’t the same thing, and they’re more important. Contextual effects strongly influence how things work out, both in the clinic and the lab — probably more than the placebo response.

This new evidence-based opinion paper tries to clear up four common points of confusion. Nerd factor 8 — not exactly a light read. Fortunately, there’s also a less nerdy version! It’s is also longer, but definitely more readable … about, say, nerd factor 6? Lead author David Poulter published his version of the article before his academic colleagues got to it.

I need to digest both of those more carefully and then, almost certainly, make some changes to the PainSci guide to placebo … nerd factor 5. 😜