Perceptual properties of medications can elicit specific expectancies and may have implications for patients' compliance. To explore the relationship between capsules' color and perceived potency, 20 participants rank-ordered seven capsules of saturated hue. 10 men showed more agreement than 10 women in ranking strength; red and black capsules were ranked as ‘strongest’ and white as ‘weakest.’
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BuckalewL. W.A cognitive dissonance perspective on the patient compliance problem. The Psychology Bulletin, 1982, 3(2), 28–33.
2.
BuckalewL. W.CoffieldK. E.An investigation of drug expectancy as a function of capsule color and size and preparation form. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 1982, 2, 245–248.
3.
BuckalewL. W.RossS.Relationship of perceptual characteristics to efficacy of placebos. Psychological Reports, 1981, 49, 955–961.
4.
CaranasosG. J.Problems with medicines. Primary Care, 1980, 7, 575–584.
5.
CouttsK. W.Compliance oriented pharmacy programs. Military Medicine, 1978, 143, 639–641.
6.
CrooksJ.Rational therapeutics in the elderly. Journal of Chronic Diseases, 1983, 36, 59–65.
7.
HussainM. Z.Effect of shape of medication in treatment of anxiety states. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1972, 120, 507–509.
8.
JacobsK. W.NordanF. M.Classification of placebo drugs: Effect of color. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1979, 49, 367–372.
9.
MaxulloJ. M.The nonpharmacologic basis of therapeutics. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapy, 1972, 13, 157–158.