This article explores an experimental form of writing that I'm terming poetic transcription. Inspired by Laurel Richardson (1992, 1994a, 1994b), I define poetic transcription as the creation of poemlike compositions from the words of interviewees. In this article, I present six poetic transcriptions of Dona Juana, an elderly Puerto Rican researcher and educator; describe my poetic transcription process; and examine issues that experimental writing—specifically, poetic transcription—raises for research re-presentation.
Objective
This study examined if pairing a placebo with stimulant medication produces a placebo response that allows children with ADHD to be maintained on a lower dose of stimulant medication. Primary aim was to determine the efficacy, side effects and acceptability of a novel conditioned placebo dose reduction (CPDR) procedure.
Method
Participants included 99 children ages 6 to 12 years with ADHD. After an initial double-blind dose finding to identify optimal dose of mixed amphetamine salts (MAS), subjects were randomly assigned to one of three treatments of eight weeks duration: (a) CPDR condition (50% Reduced Dose/Placebo– RD/P) or (b) a dose reduction only condition (Reduced Dose - RD) or (c) a no reduction condition (Full Dose–FD). The innovative CPDR procedure involved daily pairing of MAS dose with a visually distinctive placebo capsule administered in open label, with full disclosure of placebo use to subjects and parents.
Results
70 children completed the study. There were no differences in subject retention among the three groups. Most subjects in the RD/P group remained stable during the treatment phase, whereas most in the RD group deteriorated. There was no difference in control of ADHD symptoms between the RD/P group and the FD group, and both RD/P and FD groups showed better ADHD control than the RD group. Treatment emergent side effects were lowest in the RD/P group.
Conclusion
Pairing placebos with stimulant medication elicits a placebo response that allows children with ADHD to be effectively treated on 50% of their optimal stimulant dose.
Open-label use of placebos as part of CPDR treatment may represent an innovative, ethical way of harnessing the power of placebos in clinical therapeutics.
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