A placebo is something, such as a substance or procedure, that has no inherent ability to directly produce an effect of interest, but which can nevertheless produce this effect indirectly, generally through a psychological response. Most commonly, the term “ placebo ” is used in the medical context, to refer to an inert substance (e.g., a sugar pill) with no active ingredients or to a similar type of treatment, which leads to positive outcomes for patients (e.g., reduced pain) despite ... What is the placebo effect? The placebo effect is a phenomenon where people experience benefits from a medical intervention, like a pill or procedure, if they expect that it will work. Placebos are inactive substances or interventions, most often used in controlled studies for comparison with potentially active drugs. The term placebo (Latin for “I will please”) initially referred to an inactive, harmless substance given to patients to make them feel better by the power of suggestion. More recently, sham interventions (eg, mock electrical stimulation or simulated surgical procedures in clinical trials) have also been considered placebos. The term is sometimes used for ...
