What is the placebo effect?

Abstract

For the first time, the placebo effect was described in 1955 by the American physician Henry Beecher, who found that about a third of patients recover as a result of the use of sugar pills that do not contain any active medicinal substances. The first mentions of such drugs date back to the 18th century; at that time they meant "fake" drugs containing indifferent substances in their composition. It is believed that the placebo effect is associated with a person's psycho-emotional perception of this drug as a means of salvation, belief in its effectiveness and efficacy, and the desire to recover. Against this background, the maximum mobilization of vital forces occurs, the processes of regeneration are switched on, and the physical and mental state of the patient is normalized. An interesting fact is that the severity of the placebo effect can be significantly affected by the cost of the drug (the higher it is, the better the drug "helps") and even its appearance. For instance, yellow pills are very effective in treating depression, green pills help reduce feelings of anxiety, and white pills assist in treating stomach ulcers. In addition, taking two pills has a greater positive effect than taking one.