Placebo effect

A beneficial health outcome resulting from a person’s anticipation that an intervention will help. For example, if a participant feels hopeful about an intervention, he or she may be more likely to notice positive changes than negatives ones. A researcher’s hope may also sway a participant’s response. Research designs that use double blinding help minimize the placebo effect. NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH): Health Information; FDA: Patient Clinical Trials Glossary of Terms