What is the Placebo Effect?

This video describes the characteristics of the placebo effect. This effect occurs when a client or patient experiences positive or negative changes to symptoms, when the treatment was inert. Often the placebo effect refers to medication, with the example of an inactive treatment being a sugar pill. The placebo effect is thought to occur due to a variety of reasons including client focus, the passage of time, conditioning, releasing of chemicals by the brain, and a tendency to ignore symptoms. The placebo effect can also lead to negative symptom change. This is referred to as the “nocebo effect.” Positive expectations are not required for the placebo effect to be observed.