ReviewPerspectives in clinical research
Unraveling the mystery of placebo effect in research and practice: An update.
Review in Perspectives in clinical research. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The placebo effect, observed when inert substances produce measurable health outcomes, has long intrigued researchers and clinicians. Traditionally attributed to psychological factors, recent evidence suggests neurobiological mechanisms may also contribute, though the exact pathways remain unclear. This review aims to provide an updated understanding of the placebo effect, exploring its underlying mechanisms, the factors influencing its variability, and its implications in both clinical research and practice. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted, focusing on studies that examined psychological, genetic, and neurobiological contributions to the placebo effect. The review also considered the use of placebos in research, including their types, characteristics, and ethical considerations. Placebos can activate psychological mechanisms like expectation and conditioning, while neurobiological pathways involving the opioid and dopamine systems may also play a role. Genetic polymorphisms, such as those affecting the COMT enzyme, have been identified as potential predictors of placebo response. The scale of the placebo effect extends beyond subjective symptoms to physiological outcomes, including changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and brain activity. The placebo effect is influenced by multiple factors, including study design, disease type, and participant characteristics. High placebo response rates in certain conditions (e.g., pain, depression) raise questions about the reliability of test interventions. The ethical use of placebos, particularly in surgical and behavioral trials, remains a subject of debate. An improved understanding of placebo mechanisms is essential for optimizing its use in both research and clinical practice. Standardized reporting and ethical guidelines are necessary to ensure the integrity of placebo-controlled trials and the ethical application of placebo effects in patient care.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.