Hypnosis and the placebo effect and the David Waxman memorial lecture

Research on the placebo effect has substantially increased in the last 15 years following key, highly influential findings. Both the application of neuroimaging to placebo effects and meta-analyses of clinical trial data have revealed insights into the nature and importance of the placebo effect.

This meeting will present and debate arguments for the better consideration of placebo effects in medicine and the utility of hypnosis in potentially marshalling the placebo effect.

Internationally renowned psychologist and expert on hypnosis and the placebo effect, Professor Irving Kirsch will be in attendance and enlightening delegates on the subject. He will be leading a workshop that will consider how to design clinical trials and meta-analyses of those trials presenting common pitfalls, and give advice on how to avoid them.

Overall this event will provide you with valuable knowledge on an extremely important topic in research, medicine and clinical practice.

Topics include:

• Professor Kirsch’s work highlighting the role of placebo in producing effects attributed to anti-depressant medication
• The relationship between hypnosis and placebo effects
• The clinical utility of hypnosis in light of its relationship to placebo effects
• The role of placebo medication
• Training session on ‘Designing Clinical Trials and Meta-Analyses: Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them’