Idea or Concept
placebo effect
pla·ce·bo ef·fect
Subclass of:
Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic
Definitions related to placebo effect:
  • A change or improvement in symptoms that is due to a dummy medication or treatment (placebo) rather than a real drug or treatment.
    Harvard Dictionary of Health Terms
    Harvard Medical Publishing, 2011
  • An effect usually, but not necessarily, beneficial that is attributable to an expectation that the regimen will have an effect, i.e., the effect is due to the power of suggestion.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • Placebo effect, psychological or psychophysiological improvement attributed to therapy with an inert substance or a simulated (sham) procedure. There is no clear explanation for why some persons experience measurable improvement when given an inert substance for treatment. Research has indicated...
    Encyclopedia Britannica
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2025
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