Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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Although placebo effect is a common phenomenon in medicine and research, its mechanisms are not well understood. With the advent of modern medicine, placebo became a symbol for an outdated, morally questionable practice implying deceit and paternalism. ⋯ Therefore, its understanding is essential for researchers and all medical practitioners, particularly those dealing with patients suffering from pain, depression, and motor disorders. In this article, we review the theories on placebo mechanisms and discuss their implications for clinical practice and the design of clinical trials.