A patient’s genetic makeup may explain the “placebo effect,” in which people perceive that a fake treatment makes them feel better, according to a study that may help researchers design better clinical trials. Kathryn Hall, HMS research fellow in medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, is the lead author. Ted Kaptchuk, HMS associate professor of medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, is also an author of the study.
