What is the placebo effect and how does it work?

The placebo effect is a phenomenon in which a person's symptoms or well-being improve after receiving a fake treatment that has no specific or intrinsic effect on their condition.

For example, a person may feel less pain after taking a sugar pill that they believe is a painkiller, or they may feel more energetic after receiving an injection of saline solution that they think is a vitamin. The placebo effect is not just about positive thinking or wishful thinking. It involves complex psychological and physiological mechanisms that are not fully understood.

How does the placebo effect work? What are the benefits of the placebo effect? What are the limitations of the placebo effect? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

First broadcast: 25/04/2023

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