title: [Biochemistry of the placebo effect. Recent acquisitions].
abstract: The placebo effect is a very significant reality, both in medical practice and in clinical research. According to the most common opinion, placebo effect is essentially psychosomatic in nature. Much less well-known, however, is the fact that the placebo effect involves very complex biochemical events. This is particularly true of placebo analgesia, due to biochemical mediators produced by our nervous system. Approximate ideas about the placebo effect may have by no means negligible implications in clinical practice.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dobrilla
mesh_terms: D001669:Biochemical Phenomena; D001671:Biochemistry; D006801:Humans; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D015990:Placebo Effect
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents