phys.org placebo effect wth?

Simon Bridge

Has the author got the wrong end of the stick?
http://phys.org/news/2012-08-insight...bo-effect.html

He seems to be saying that the placebo effect is the bodies ability to heal itself without outside cause (beyond the patients beliefs).

I understood "placebo effect" to be more when a patient feels better without getting better.

Perhaps they are talking about the special case where a positive attitude improves immune response - despondent people tend not to get better as easily?