Placebos

A placebo is a dummy form of medical treatment, such as an inactive pill, that is given to a patient by a doctor as if it were an active medical treatment, even though it is not. Placebos are commonly used in clinical trials to measure the efficacy of a real medical treatment against a placebo “control”. The placebo effect is a well-documented phenomenon in which the patient’s symptoms may show improvement owing to the patient's belief in the treatment received even though it is not an active medical treatment. The placebo effect can influence the perceived effectiveness of a medical treatment, and hence its use has ethical implications in patient care. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that the placebo effect is also associated with physiological changes such as increased endorphin release, altering the patient’s perception of pain. In conclusion, the placebo effect is a fascinating phenomenon and its implications for clinical practice and research are highly relevant.