The Placebo Effect

15 Questions | By Phil_newton | Updated: Mar 20, 2022 | Attempts: 548

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At times, In the world of medicin the doctor will prescribe nutrition supplements to you and you might be given some vitamins. The quiz will find out how much you know about the placebo effect and how they help you.

Questions and Answers

1.

Ivan Pavlov is best known for his work on
- A.
  
  Altruism
- B.
  
  Classical Conditioning
- C.
  
  Learned Helplessness
- D.
  
  Relational Frame Theory
- E.
  
  Spontaneous Recovery
2.

If, in the previous example, the hungry dog were repeatedly presented with the bell in the absence of the dog food, what would happen to the dog's conditioned response?
- A.
  
  It would weaken and ultimately disappear
- B.
  
  It would strengthen
- C.
  
  It would remain until the bell were paired with another unconditioned stimulus
3.

What is the term which describes the process by which a conditioned response is ultimately 'lost'?
- A.
  
  Acquisition
- B.
  
  Blocking
- C.
  
  Generalization
- D.
  
  Latent Inhibition
- E.
  
  Spontaneous Recovery
4.

The response exhibited by Mr X is an example of
- A.
  
  Altrusism
- B.
  
  The Halo Effect
- C.
  
  The Hawthorne Effect
- D.
  
  The Nocebo Effect
- E.
  
  The Placebo Effect
5.

Mrs X has a bad cold. After suffering for a few days she goes to see her doctor. The doctor gives her some antibiotics. Mrs X feels better after a few days. In addition to a possible placebo effect, what other process might be at work to explain any perceived benefit of taking antibiotics for a common cold?
- A.
  
  Hawthorne Effect
- B.
  
  Natural History
- C.
  
  Nocebo Effect
- D.
  
  Regression to the Mean
- E.
  
  Social Learning
6.

In a clinical trial, all 1000 participants receive the experimental treatment and the effects are compared to the 'pretreatment' condition, removing the need for a control group. 35 participants experience a benefit after taking the experimental treatment. Post hoc analysis reveals that these were the participants whose symptoms were the worst at the start of the trial. Unfortunately another 28 participants actually get worse. In this case post hoc analysis reveals these people had only mild symptoms at the start of the trial. What might explain this pattern of results?
- A.
  
  Natural History
- B.
  
  Nocebo Effect
- C.
  
  Placebo Effect
- D.
  
  Regression to the Mean
- E.
  
  Social Learning
7.

Which of the following best describes a nocebo effect?
- A.
  
  A patient notices an improvement in their symptoms after being given B vitamins for chronic fatigue
- B.
  
  A patient reports an improvement in their symptoms when taking some time off for a common cold
- C.
  
  A patient feels anxious and fearful when a doctor tells them "this will probably hurt" before administering treatment
- D.
  
  A patient notices an improvement in their symptoms after being given antibiotics for a commons cold
- E.
  
  Patients report that medical staff are more attentive during a clinical audit
8.

In a trial of Drug X for Darting Syndrome, participants are split into three groups - Control, Placebo and X. Symptoms of Darting Syndrome are measured on the Ockey Scale. Patients in the Control group report a 40 point improvement in their symptoms, while those receiving Placebo report a 100 point improvement. Those taking X report a 180 point improvement. In points, what is the magnitude of the Placebo effect?
- A.
  
  40
- B.
  
  60
- C.
  
  80
- D.
  
  100
- E.
  
  140
9.

In the same trial, the therapeutic benefit of X, measured in points on the Ockey Scale is what? (In a trial of Drug X for Darting Syndrome, participants are split into three group - Control, Placebo and X. Symptoms of Darting Syndrome are measured on the Ockey Scale. Patients in the Control group report a 40 point improvement in their symptoms, while those receiving Placebo report a 100 point improvement. Those taking X report a 180 point improvement).
- A.
  
  40
- B.
  
  60
- C.
  
  80
- D.
  
  120
- E.
  
  180
10.

Some fundamental principle of homeopathy are that (check all that apply) ('correct option(s) from Society of Homeopaths website)
- A.
  
  A substance which causes symptoms when taken in large doses, can be used in small amounts to treat those same symptoms.
- B.
  
  The higher the concentration of an active ingredient in a medicine, the more potent it is.
- C.
  
  The manufacture of homeopathic medicines requires serial dilution
- D.
  
  The manufacture of homeopathic medicines must be carried out in the dark
- E.
  
  The manufacture of homeopathic medicines requires(succussion = a specific form of vigorous agitation)
11.

Homeopathic medicines have no known therapeutic benefit
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
12.

Mr X is suffering from Boris Syndrome. He has not been to the doctor as he has never been ill in his life before. A trusted friend has also suffered with Boris Syndrome and reports feeling much better after taking "Preparation 32". The friend gives Mr X a packet of "Preparation 32" and tells Mr X it is 'sure to work'. Mr X reads the packaging and, sure enough, it states that Preparation 32 is 'clinically proven to relieve the symptoms of Boris Syndrome'. Mr X takes Preparation 32 and feels better. Mr X is not aware that multiple clinical trials have shown no clinical benefit of Preparation 32 in the treatment of Boris Syndrome. What psychological process, from the list below, best describes the mechanism by which Mr X feels better after taking Preparation 32?
- A.
  
  Conditioned Inhibition
- B.
  
  Extinction
- C.
  
  Relational Learning
- D.
  
  Response Expectancy
- E.
  
  Social Learning
13.

Homeopathic medicines have no known therapeutic benefit beyond placebo
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False