Placebo effect works on adults.

• Position: ADHD

Stimulant medications, such as Ritalin and Adderall, are the accepted treatment for children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, a review of research by pediatric psychologists at the University at Buffalo (N.Y.) suggests that such medication may produce a placebo effect--not in children, but in their teachers, parents, or other adults who evaluate them.

A placebo effect is a positive change in symptoms or behavior after a patient receives a "fake" medication or procedure; in other words, the belief can become the medicine. In this case, the review suggests that, when caregivers believe their ADHD patients are receiving ADHD medication, they tend to view those children more favorably and treat them more positively, whether the medication is involved or not.

"We speculate that the perception that a child is...