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The '''placebo effect''' is the well-known lessening of pain and other symptoms when a patient is given an inert substance instead of normal medicine. It can occur when exploratory surgery is conducted, too. For example, a tension headache will frequently disappear if the patient believes they are being given an analgesic.<ref>Cephalalgia Volume 23 Issue 1 [http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118883656/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0]</ref> Researchers generally believe that its effect is due entirely to the patient's [[expectation]].
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vaccines and Immunizations Glossary defines a '''placebo''' as "A substance or treatment that has no effect on human beings." <ref>US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vaccines and Immunizations Glossary, entry for "placebo" [http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/about/terms/glossary.htm#p]</ref>
A '''placebo''' is a [[substance]] or [[treatment]] used as a decoy in studies for the "control" part of the sample. Part of the study group will receive a placebo, and the remainder the group will receive the new [[medication]] being studied, so that the differences in outcome may be compared.
A '''placebo''' is a [[substance]] or [[treatment]] used as a decoy in studies for the "control" part of the sample. Part of the study group will receive a placebo, and the remainder the group will receive the new [[medication]] being studied, so that the differences in outcome may be compared.
It is well known to medical researchers that merely assuring someone that a treatment will be successful, greatly increases the chance of the treatment actually working.{{fact}} For example, a tension headache will frequently disappear if the patient believes they are being given an analgesic.<ref>Cephalalgia Volume 23 Issue 1 [http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118883656/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0]</ref> This is known as the placebo effect. Its effect is due entirely to the psychological effect of a patient knowing they are receiving a treatment.
It is well known to medical researchers that merely assuring someone that a treatment will be successful, greatly increases the chance of the treatment actually working.{{fact}} This is known as the placebo effect. Its
The effectiveness of a pain relief medicine is always contrasted with the effectiveness of a placebo. The question is not how well it relieves pain, but how much better is it than a placebo?
The effectiveness of a pain relief medicine is always contrasted with the effectiveness of a placebo. The question is not how well it relieves pain, but how much better is it than a placebo?