Fenômeno placebo: reflexões a partir do conceito de condicionamento clássico

Abstract

Understanding the action and interaction of placebo in the body is fundamental to thinking alternative treatments for a specific disease or symptomatology. Studies developed on the topic over the years exemplify and bring to light several nuances and neuropsychological aspects to what was previously believed to be just an illusion of the patient. Based on the development of studies in pharmacology, medicine and psychology in regarding etiopathogenesis and the placebo effect, the need arose to conceptualize its possible modulators, among them, classical conditioning - a neurobiological process that justifies the modulation of some behaviors. In this context, the theory of classical conditioning suggests that the placebo effect is a conditioned response due to repeated associations between a conditioned stimulus (a neutral component such as the color or shape of a active drug) and an unconditioned stimulus (the active element capable of eliciting responses). With this, it also seeks to show that, despite not having effective causal power capable of of acting on biological circumstances, the placebo acts on a mental (psychological) aspect even if associated with physical events such as words, gestures, pills.