How can the placebo effect make a patient feel better?

The placebo effect refers to a psychological or psychophysiological improvement in a patient's condition that occurs following a treatment with an inert substance or sham procedure, rather than from the specific therapeutic action of the intervention itself.12

Research suggests that this improvement is largely driven by a patient’s expectations regarding the treatment. When individuals believe they are receiving an effective therapy, their hopeful attitude can trigger measurable physiological changes. For instance, studies have identified that the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain—specifically in the ventral striatum—is a key mechanism in mediating these expectations.13

External factors, such as the perceived cost, branding, or appearance of a pill, can also influence a patient's expectations and, consequently, the magnitude of the effect. While the placebo effect is a documented phenomenon, it raises significant bioethics concerns in medicine, particularly regarding the transparency of clinical research and the ethical implications of using inert treatments when effective therapies are available.1