The placebo effect is a mental state that occurs when someone is given a substance that contains none of what the user perceives is in the substance. If the substance is being used socially, the placebo effect usually occurs in a group setting, paired with first use (of the perceived substance).

The placebo effect is sometimes used to treat mental disorders such as schizophrenia and psychosis in the medical field. In these scenarios, a psychiatrist will prescribe a patient a bottle of pills (usually made with rice) with labels pointing towards an actual substance. The psychiatrist gives the patient dosage information as well as additional information on the perceived substance, forming a belief in the patient's mind that the drug will treat their condition. Once the patient starts taking the pills (or other methods of use), they "feel" the positive effects of the perceived substance without actually taking it at all.

History

 
Clark Stanley's Snake Oil Advertisement.

The placebo effect dates back as early as 1799. Doctors at this time would convince mental disorder patients that they could use rods of different metals to "pull out" their condition. Merchants and traders would sell or trade sham items such as "snake oil" that they claimed would treat a wide variety of conditions. Some merchants would go as far as to say that their "miracle bottle" could keep you from aging.

References

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