Faith and expectation in the placebo effect

The German physician, H. Rheder described the following clinical trial in 1955. In the local hospital were three patients under his care; one suffering from chronic gall bladder disease, a second from severe pancreatitis associated with weight loss, constipation and depression, and the third had an inoperable uterine cancer, with anaemia, weakness and massive accumulation of fluid in the abdomen.

Without telling the patients, Rheder approached a local faith healer, whose speciality was "healing at a distance". The healer was given all the clinical details, and was asked to project his healing forces on to the patients. This was done over a period of weeks, during which time the medical staff carefully monitored the condition of the patients. There was no change in any of the three.

After the healer had withdrawn from the case, Rheder told his patients that he had found a healer with many successes to his credit, who would project his healing powers on to them at stated times on stated days. By the time this "healing" was due to start, all three patients had become confident that the longed-for cure of their illnesses was imminent.

Within a few days noticeable improvements had occurred in all three patients. The gall bladder sufferer's pain disappeared, and he remained free of symptoms for a year. The patient with pancreatitis recovered normal bowel function and gained 13kg in weight. The cancer sufferer's appetite increased, her anaemia improved, and the abdominal fluid decreased. She was able to return home within a few days, and, until her inevitable death after three months, lived an active and comfortable life.

These three anecdotal cases illustrate the overriding importance of expectant faith, and the uselessness of the faith "healer", in the cures effected.

The source of this report is The Healing Brain. by Robert Ornstein & David Sobel (Simon & Schuster, 1988).