Clinical improvement in a patient
Generally, there are three reasons for clinical improvement in a patient’s condition. First, most acute and some chronic pain problems resolve on their own irrespective of treatments. Second, desired specific results of treatment obtained from specific medical procedure. And third, non-specific effects of treatment attributed to factors other than the desired characteristics of medical intervention. These factors are: physician attention, interest and concern in a healing setting; patients and physician’s expectations of treatment and the characteristics of setting that influence patient to report improvement. This non-specific effect is often termed as placebo effect.
Studies have shown that thoughts and beliefs can have important influence on the human neurobiology and create healing process in the way.
Historic view
Placebo is a substance without medical effects, and....