Dr. Brown says that there are a number of components involved. One is the effect of expectation. People who expect to get better have a better chance of actually getting better than those who don't, he says. Another component is conditioning. If someone has gotten treated in the past, a similar experience may provoke the placebo response.
Stress reduction is also a factor.
Patients often find relief and comfort in a treatment setting, and that may make them feel better. Dr. Goodwin asks the guests if placebos should be used as treatment, since they seem to work, in many cases. Dr. Brown says that placebos are sometimes as effective as drugs in treatment of mild depression and panic disorder, so there may be some situations where a physician can honestly tell a patient that he is suggesting something which contains no drug, but which has helped others with that patient's condition. Dr. Quitkin says he does not agree that drugs for depression and panic disorder are no more effective than placebos. But he adds that some people feel better as soon as they call or see the doctor, and for those people, a closely watched placebo treatment might be a possibility.