Placebo effects in functional dyspepsia: Causes and implications for clinical trials

Placebo responses to an apparently inactive intervention are of interest from a scientific perspective as they suggest possible mechanism(s) at work beyond the intervention itself. They are also of interest from a clinical trials perspective since high rates of placebo response limit the potential to demonstrate worthwhile efficacy of a new intervention. This mini‐review was motivated by the work of Bosman and colleagues(Neurogastroenterol Motil, 2022, and e14474) that is published in this issue of the journal in which they report on a systematic review and meta‐analysis of placebo response in functional dyspepsia clinical trials. The review sets the scene for their work by putting it in the context of other disorders of brain–gut interaction and extra‐gastrointestinal disorders. The review canvasses potential mechanisms of placebo response.