Beneficial change in medical condition, often caused by a drug
Therapeutic effect refers to the response(s) after a treatment of any kind, the results of which are judged to be useful or favorable.[1][2][3] This is true whether the result was expected, unexpected, or even an
unintended consequence. An
adverse effect (including
nocebo) is the converse and refers to harmful or undesired response(s). What constitutes a
therapeutic effect versus a side effect is a matter of both the nature of the situation and the goals of treatment. No inherent difference separates therapeutic and undesired side effects; both responses are
behavioral/
physiologic changes that occur as a response to the treatment strategy or agent. [2]
Treatment scope
To maximize therapeutic effects (desired) and minimize side effects (undesired) requires recognition and quantification of the treatment in multiple dimensions. In the specific case of targeted pharmaceutical interventions, a combination of therapies is often needed to achieve the desired results.[4]
A 2016 review found that the
adjunctive use of standardized pharmaceutical-grade nutrients, known as
nutraceuticals, had a therapeutic effect in patients with
depression.[8]
A 2014 review found there was a strong therapeutic benefit from
stem cell therapy on organ recovery from injury and that it may also inhibit tumor growth.[10]
^Fitzgerald, Jonathan B; Schoeberl, Birgit; Nielsen, Ulrik B; Sorger, Peter K (2006). "Systems biology and combination therapy in the quest for clinical efficacy". Nature Chemical Biology. 2 (9): 458–466.
doi:
10.1038/nchembio817.
ISSN1552-4450.
PMID16921358.
S2CID12119143.
^Iorio, Raffaele; Damato, Valentina; Alboini, Paolo Emilio; Evoli, Amelia (12 October 2014). "Efficacy and safety of rituximab for myasthenia gravis: a systematic review and meta-analysis". Journal of Neurology. 262 (5): 1115–1119.
doi:
10.1007/s00415-014-7532-3.
ISSN0340-5354.
PMID25308632.
S2CID34358992.
^Akyurekli, Celine; Le, Yevgeniya; Richardson, Richard B.; Fergusson, Dean; Tay, Jason; Allan, David S. (5 August 2014). "A Systematic Review of Preclinical Studies on the Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Derived Microvesicles". Stem Cell Reviews and Reports. 11 (1): 150–160.
doi:
10.1007/s12015-014-9545-9.
ISSN1550-8943.
PMID25091427.
S2CID14366453.
^Gu, Jenny; Strauss, Clara; Bond, Rod; Cavanagh, Kate (2015). "How do mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction improve mental health and wellbeing? A systematic review and meta-analysis of mediation studies". Clinical Psychology Review. 37: 1–12.
doi:
10.1016/j.cpr.2015.01.006.
ISSN0272-7358.
PMID25689576.
S2CID4117449.
^Ginani, Fernanda; Soares, Diego Moura; Barreto, Mardem Portela e Vasconcelos; Barboza, Carlos Augusto Galvão (13 March 2015). "Effect of low-level laser therapy on mesenchymal stem cell proliferation: a systematic review". Lasers in Medical Science. 30 (8): 2189–2194.
doi:
10.1007/s10103-015-1730-9.
ISSN0268-8921.
PMID25764448.
S2CID33081269.
^Fuller, Joel T; Hartland, Michael C; Maloney, Luke T; Davison, Kade (16 March 2018). "Therapeutic effects of aerobic and resistance exercises for cancer survivors: a systematic review of meta-analyses of clinical trials". British Journal of Sports Medicine. 52 (20): bjsports–2017–098285.
doi:
10.1136/bjsports-2017-098285.
ISSN0306-3674.
PMID29549149.
S2CID3901907.
^Lu, Zhihua; Lin, Guiting; Reed-Maldonado, Amanda; Wang, Chunxi; Lee, Yung-Chin; Lue, Tom F. (2017). "Low-intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatment Improves Erectile Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis". European Urology. 71 (2): 223–233.
doi:
10.1016/j.eururo.2016.05.050.
ISSN0302-2838.
PMID27321373.
Beneficial change in medical condition, often caused by a drug
Therapeutic effect refers to the response(s) after a treatment of any kind, the results of which are judged to be useful or favorable.[1][2][3] This is true whether the result was expected, unexpected, or even an
unintended consequence. An
adverse effect (including
nocebo) is the converse and refers to harmful or undesired response(s). What constitutes a
therapeutic effect versus a side effect is a matter of both the nature of the situation and the goals of treatment. No inherent difference separates therapeutic and undesired side effects; both responses are
behavioral/
physiologic changes that occur as a response to the treatment strategy or agent. [2]
Treatment scope
To maximize therapeutic effects (desired) and minimize side effects (undesired) requires recognition and quantification of the treatment in multiple dimensions. In the specific case of targeted pharmaceutical interventions, a combination of therapies is often needed to achieve the desired results.[4]
A 2016 review found that the
adjunctive use of standardized pharmaceutical-grade nutrients, known as
nutraceuticals, had a therapeutic effect in patients with
depression.[8]
A 2014 review found there was a strong therapeutic benefit from
stem cell therapy on organ recovery from injury and that it may also inhibit tumor growth.[10]
^Fitzgerald, Jonathan B; Schoeberl, Birgit; Nielsen, Ulrik B; Sorger, Peter K (2006). "Systems biology and combination therapy in the quest for clinical efficacy". Nature Chemical Biology. 2 (9): 458–466.
doi:
10.1038/nchembio817.
ISSN1552-4450.
PMID16921358.
S2CID12119143.
^Iorio, Raffaele; Damato, Valentina; Alboini, Paolo Emilio; Evoli, Amelia (12 October 2014). "Efficacy and safety of rituximab for myasthenia gravis: a systematic review and meta-analysis". Journal of Neurology. 262 (5): 1115–1119.
doi:
10.1007/s00415-014-7532-3.
ISSN0340-5354.
PMID25308632.
S2CID34358992.
^Akyurekli, Celine; Le, Yevgeniya; Richardson, Richard B.; Fergusson, Dean; Tay, Jason; Allan, David S. (5 August 2014). "A Systematic Review of Preclinical Studies on the Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Derived Microvesicles". Stem Cell Reviews and Reports. 11 (1): 150–160.
doi:
10.1007/s12015-014-9545-9.
ISSN1550-8943.
PMID25091427.
S2CID14366453.
^Gu, Jenny; Strauss, Clara; Bond, Rod; Cavanagh, Kate (2015). "How do mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction improve mental health and wellbeing? A systematic review and meta-analysis of mediation studies". Clinical Psychology Review. 37: 1–12.
doi:
10.1016/j.cpr.2015.01.006.
ISSN0272-7358.
PMID25689576.
S2CID4117449.
^Ginani, Fernanda; Soares, Diego Moura; Barreto, Mardem Portela e Vasconcelos; Barboza, Carlos Augusto Galvão (13 March 2015). "Effect of low-level laser therapy on mesenchymal stem cell proliferation: a systematic review". Lasers in Medical Science. 30 (8): 2189–2194.
doi:
10.1007/s10103-015-1730-9.
ISSN0268-8921.
PMID25764448.
S2CID33081269.
^Fuller, Joel T; Hartland, Michael C; Maloney, Luke T; Davison, Kade (16 March 2018). "Therapeutic effects of aerobic and resistance exercises for cancer survivors: a systematic review of meta-analyses of clinical trials". British Journal of Sports Medicine. 52 (20): bjsports–2017–098285.
doi:
10.1136/bjsports-2017-098285.
ISSN0306-3674.
PMID29549149.
S2CID3901907.
^Lu, Zhihua; Lin, Guiting; Reed-Maldonado, Amanda; Wang, Chunxi; Lee, Yung-Chin; Lue, Tom F. (2017). "Low-intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatment Improves Erectile Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis". European Urology. 71 (2): 223–233.
doi:
10.1016/j.eururo.2016.05.050.
ISSN0302-2838.
PMID27321373.