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. 2011 Feb;36(1):69-78.
doi: 10.1093/jmp/jhq061. Epub 2011 Jan 10.

Understanding and harnessing placebo effects: clearing away the underbrush

Franklin G Miller  1 , Howard Brody
Affiliations

Understanding and harnessing placebo effects: clearing away the underbrush

Franklin G Miller et al. J Med Philos. 2011 Feb.

Abstract

Despite strong growth in scientific investigation of the placebo effect, understanding of this phenomenon remains deeply confused. We investigate critically seven common conceptual distinctions that impede clear understanding of the placebo effect: (1) verum/placebo, (2) active/inactive, (3) signal/noise, (4) specific/nonspecific, (5) objective/subjective, (6) disease/illness, and (7) intervention/context. We argue that some of these should be eliminated entirely, whereas others must be used with caution to avoid bias. Clearing away the conceptual underbrush is needed to lay down a path to understanding and harnessing placebo effects in clinical medicine.

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