title: [Placebo and placebo effects (first part): definition, clinical aspects, mechanisms].
abstract: There are many papers devoted to placebo and placebo effects. The present article tries to provide a precise definition of these concepts and to take stock of our knowledge on this topic. Considering that most of the publications dealing with this phenomon are of poor scientific quality, some authors deny its existence. However recent findings in neuroscience show that it is a reality and explain its mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Chef de Service honoraire, Hôpital Erasme.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kinnaert
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015990:Placebo Effect; D010919:Placebos / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos