placebo
Type: concept Aliases: placebo group placebos placebo-controlled
Systems Analogy
A dummy fuel additive or inert fluid used during engine testing that flows through pipes without driving combustion.
An inactive substance or procedure designed to mimic the experimental treatment, used as a control in clinical trials to isolate psychological expectation from physical effect.
Mentioned In
Scientific Sources & Verbatim Definitions
- Empirical StudyFinniss DG, et al. Biological, clinical, and ethical advancement of placebo effects. Lancet. 2010;375(9715):686-695. ↗
"The placebo response represents a complex psychological and neurobiological reaction to the clinical environment and treatment expectation."