[eli5:] Can a placebo instantly make someone well or are placebos always a process in which, for example, a person takes placebo pills and only overtime becomes well?
In: Biology
Well, it’s not going to actually make a person well – just improve their perception of their symptoms and prognosis, during which time the illness could resolve on its own if it’s minor and short-lasting. The time it takes to start doing that depends on both the severity of the condition being treated and how long the patient receiving the placebo expects it will take for the “treatment” to start working. If a condition has severe symptoms it may be impossible to get any kind or placebo effect.
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