pla
ce
bo
Plural
placebos
1
a medicine without any physiological effect that is given to a control group in an experiment to measure the effectiveness of a new drug or to patients who think they need medicine when in reality they do not
A placebo is a substance or treatment that resembles a real medical treatment but does not contain any active ingredients. It is often used in medical research and clinical trials to compare against the effects of actual medications or treatments. Placebos are designed to have no therapeutic effect on the patient, allowing researchers to evaluate the true effectiveness of the active treatment being studied. They are typically used in a way that ensures the patient is unaware of whether they are receiving the placebo or the actual treatment, to make sure that the study results are fair and not influenced by expectations or assumptions.
- In the clinical trial, half of the participants received the experimental drug while the other half received a placebo.
- The placebo group showed no improvement in symptoms compared to the treatment group, indicating the drug's effectiveness.
- Some patients reported feeling better after taking the placebo, highlighting the power of the mind in healing.
- Ethical guidelines require researchers to disclose the use of placebos to study participants.
- Placebo-controlled studies help researchers determine if the observed effects of a new treatment are due to the medication's pharmacological properties or psychological factors.
2
the evening prayer of the Office for the Dead in the Roman Catholic liturgy, named from the opening word of the first antiphon
- The medieval primer opened at the placebo before the family began prayers for the deceased.
- Choirs trained specifically for the funeral liturgy often rehearse the placebo and the dirige together.
- In the old service book the rubric directed that the placebo be sung at vespers for the soul of the benefactor.
- She found comfort in attending the placebo said each evening during the novena for the departed.
- The antique manuscript displayed the word PLACEBO at the head of the page, marking the start of vespers for the dead.