About the Placebo Effect
                     ABOUT THE PLACEBO 
EFFECT
WHAT IS THE PLACEBO 
EFFECT?
The placebo effect is when a person’s physical or mental health 
appears to improve after taking a placebo or ‘dummy’ treatment.
The placebo effect is triggered by the person's belief in the 
benefit from the treatment and their expectation of feeling 
better, rather than the characteristics of the placebo. 
Source: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
SELF-LIMITING DISORDERS
Many conditions, such as the common cold, are self-limiting. 
They will resolve by themselves anyway, with or without 
placebos or medications, and the end of symptoms is just a 
coincidence.
Source: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
REMISSION
The symptoms of some disorders, such as multiple sclerosis and 
lupus, may come and go. A remission (period of time when the 
symptoms go away) during a course of placebos may be 
coincidence, and not due to the placebos at all.
Source: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOUR
The placebo may increase a person's motivation to take better 
care of themselves. Improved diet, regular exercise or rest may 
be responsible for the easing of their symptoms.
Source: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
ALTERED PERCEPTION
The person's interpretation of their symptoms may change with 
the expectation of feeling better. For example, they may interpret 
a sharp pain as an uncomfortable tingling instead.
Source: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
REDUCED ANXIETY
Taking the placebo and expecting to feel better may be soothing 
and reduce the levels of stress chemicals the body produces, 
such as adrenaline.
Source: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
ALTERED BRAIN STATE 
Research indicates that the brain responds to an imagined scene 
in much the same way as it responds to an actual visualised 
scene. 
A placebo may help the brain to remember a time before the 
onset of symptoms, and then bring about change to the body. 
This theory is called 'remembered wellness'. 
Source: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF 
THE PLACEBO
If the pill looks real, the person taking it is more likely to believe 
that it contains an active medicine. Research shows that larger 
sized pills suggest a stronger dose than smaller pills, and taking 
2 pills appears to be more potent than swallowing just one. 
Generally, injections have a more powerful placebo effect than 
pills.
Source: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
THE PERSON'S ATTITUDE
If the person expects the treatment to work, the chances of a 
placebo effect are higher, but placebos can still work even if the 
person is skeptical of success. The power of suggestion is at 
work here.
Source: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
PLACEBOS AND CLINICAL 
TRIALS
Placebos have been used in clinical trials for a long time, and are 
an essential part of research into new treatments. They are used 
to help test the effectiveness of a new health care treatment, 
such as a medication. 
For ethical (moral) reasons, people participating in clinical trials 
are told that they may be given a 'dummy' treatment.
Source: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au