What is a placebo?

A placebo is defined as a substance with no known or intended therapeutic effect. This typically means it is an inert substance, often resembling a drug or treatment, but lacks any active ingredient that would bring about a physiological change or health benefit. Placebos are frequently used in clinical trials to assess the efficacy of new medications; they serve as a control group to compare the effects of the actual intervention against a treatment that has no therapeutic value.

The purpose of using a placebo is to help researchers determine whether the effects observed in the experimental group are due to the treatment itself or if they can be attributed to psychological factors, such as the patient's belief in the efficacy of the treatment. This is important in the study of pharmacological interventions and other health-related therapies, as it helps to demonstrate the true effectiveness of the therapeutic product being tested.