What is the true definition and impact of the placebo effect?

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The discussion centers around the interpretation of the placebo effect, with a focus on whether it signifies the body's ability to heal itself based solely on patient beliefs. One viewpoint suggests that the placebo effect is more accurately described as patients feeling better without actual improvement in their condition. There is mention of a potential link between positive attitudes and improved immune responses, noting that individuals with a negative outlook may struggle to recover. However, skepticism is expressed regarding the validity of this perspective, highlighting that the placebo effect is primarily observed in self-reported experiences of symptoms rather than physiological changes. The conversation emphasizes that while mathematical models are important in science, conclusions drawn from weak models regarding the placebo effect may be misleading, particularly as significant effects are predominantly noted in studies related to pain, anxiety, and depression.
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Has the author got the wrong end of the stick?
http://phys.org/news/2012-08-insights-placebo-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?
 
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IT seems oddball to me as well. It is however a mathematical model. Science thrives on math. However. This appears to be the case where some people are drawing conclusions from a weak model.
 
The placebo effect is based on a persons belief's about an intervention, its generally only really evident in peoples self reported subjective experience of their symptoms. There is little evidence it has an effect on the physiology associated with health problems. The largest effects are seen in studies of pain, anxiety and depression.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1847831/
 
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