RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 When is a placebo effect not an effect? JF Clinical Medicine JO Clin Med FD Royal College of Physicians SP 450 OP 452 DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.7-5-450 VO 7 IS 5 A1 Richard Wigley YR 2007 UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/7/5/450.abstract AB It is often stated, paradoxically, that a treatment is not effective when trials have shown a placebo effect. This should be rephrased ‘that the tested treatment is not more effective than the placebo’ if we are not to confuse ourselves and the public in the current debate on complementary and alternative medicine.