The Placebo Effect

The placebo effect is defined as an unexplained (0)…… in which some people experience a benefit after taking something they believe to be a (1)…… treatment, but in (2)…… they are taking a placebo, which is usually nothing more than a sugar pill. In the (3)…… of cases, the person believes that they are receiving the actual treatment and does not know that nothing (4)…… than a placebo.

While researchers know that the placebo effect is a real effect, they do not yet (5)…… understand how and why this effect (6)……. Research is continuing as to why some people experience changes even when they are only receiving a placebo, although there are believed to be a (7)…… of different factors that may (8)…… to this phenomenon.