Is it true that there is no placebo response in treatments for oncology or infectious diseases?

Answer 1

There can be a placebo response to infectious diseases in that sometimes a person might perceive or think a cold or other illness lasts shorter or longer depending on what they are told about the product. Or, they may think they feel better or worse depending on what they are told. However, they won't "spontaneously cure" themselves like in a psychosomatic illness.

Now, we do not give placebos anymore to patients with such disorders if we know a "cure" or "treatment" is found to be beneficial. This was due to a study long ago that was absolutely horrible.

Basically, these researchers were studying the phases of syphilis. A cure was found, but instead of telling their subjects (black men), they just let the disease run through, killing the men. A law was created in response that basically said that if a cure was found or an effective treatment, it had to be offered.

I hope this answers your question! :)