The Placebo Response in Pediatric Abdominal Pain-Related Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
DR Hoekman et al. J Pediatr 182, 155-163.e7. 2017 Jan 09.
The high placebo rate associated with migraine treatment is well known. This systematic review analysed the placebo effects reported in studies of abdominal pain-related functional gastrointestinal disorders (AP-FGIDs) in children. Around 41% of children experienced an improvement in pain with placebo and 17% became symptom free. These changes were similar in magnitude to placebo effects during adult studies and suggest that conscious and ethically managed use of placebo interventions may be worthwhile for this group.