This is a beautiful article, that has put together various thoughts and perspectives in a clear and understandable way.

1. A Comprehensive
Review of the Placebo
Effect: Recent Advances
and Current Thought
11th September 2023
Presented by Anjali Bodapunti

2. “An important lesson in
physic is here to be
learnt, the wonderful and
powerful influence of the
passions of the mind
upon the state and
disorder of the body”
(de Craen et al. 1999)
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3. Introduction: Placebos
• Placebos are inert agents that aim in satisfying the patient rather than showing an action on
the human system, directly.
• These agents have been usually used in the study and treatment of analgesia.
• Placebo response: The change in a symptom or condition of an individual that occurs as a
result of placebo.
• Placebo effect: the average placebo response in a group of individuals.
• Regression to the mean: A phenomenon where individuals tend to experience a higher level
of pain intensity on initial assessment and lower pain intensity at subsequent assessments.
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4. Open-Hidden Paradigm:
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5. Factors increasing placebo effect:
Colloca & Benedetti 2006
study shows placebo
responses in patients
having past experiences.
Double blind vs Deceptive
study
Verbal suggestions Patient’s experiences
1. Mental Manipulation:
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6. Factors of placebo effect:
Expectancy Distorted Memory
2. Cognitive and Emotional changes:
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7. Placebo response and biological models:
Immune System
Endocrine System
Respiration
Parkinson’s Depression
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8. Conclusion:
• Placebos are not just inert agents but are also gaining importance in
therapeutic interventions.
• Placebos are usually driven by psychosocial and neurobiological
responses.
• Literature shows how placebos affect the whole thought process and
gives a simulating biological effect as a response.
• Future studies need to emphasize on the improvement of placebo
mechanisms and its aid in clinical research and therapeutic outcomes.
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9. Thanks!