Published online 19 March 2002

   Deconstructing the Placebo Effect and Finding the Meaning Response
   Daniel E. Moerman, PhD; Wayne B. Jonas, MD
   [+-] Author Affiliations
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   We provide a new perspective with which to understand what for a half
   century has been known as the “placebo effect.” We argue that, as
   currently used, the concept includes much that has nothing to do with
   placebos, confusing the most interesting and important aspects of the
   phenomenon. We propose a new way to understand those aspects of medical
   care, plus a broad range of additional human experiences, by focusing
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   meaning affects illness or healing and introduce the idea of the
   “meaning response.” We suggest that use of this formulation, rather
   than the fixation on inert placebos, will probably lead to far greater
   insight into how treatment works and perhaps to real improvements in
   human well-being.
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Topics

   placebo effect
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