There is also measured improvement in some (but not necessarily “all”) patients’ condition if they are religious and pray with others.
It may be “mind over matter” or “metaphysical” but those who say “there is no benefit from religion” need to look into such studies.
If Barack H. Obama gets wind of this report though, he’ll change his tune from “sometimes it’s better to take the pain pill than to get the surgery” to “sometimes it’s better to take the placebo...”
Apparently, all the depression medications “work” only on the placebo effect. Course the side affects are not too pretty to deal with.