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A positive outlook can do wonders, especially for one's overall happiness. It is even studied to be integrated into healthcare since it can allegedly improve a patient's quality of life. Given this premise, can optimism be considered a placebo effect?

How does it work?

Researchers have found positive effects of optimism on a person's physical and mental health. Aside from that, it also affects a person's daily social and work life. One study found that optimists and pessimists have different coping mechanisms in stressful situations. Another showed that optimism leads to a decreased risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. 

Psychologist and professor-in-residence Thomas Rutledge says optimism can be the world's most powerful placebo effect. He noted that it is an internal attitude that produces positive effects without external cause. Because of a person's positive internal attitude, their mentality and behavior change to produce a positive effect on their physical and mental health. He described it as a powerful tool that can yield positive results in a person's finances, career and relationships.

While these and other studies about optimism as a placebo effect consistently indicate that optimism helps improve psychological resilience, further studies are needed to understand how it actually influences health, success and other life factors.

The nocebo effect

Opposite of the placebo effect is the nocebo effect -- experiencing negative outcomes as a person expects them, even if a situation was hypothetically far from getting to that point. As an example, if someone strongly believes that they will not get well from the flu even after taking all the bed rest and medication prescribed by a doctor, they will not get well.

Both the placebo and nocebo effects are phenomena that highlight the mind and body connection. They both have significance in a person's expectations, beliefs, and perceptions and their relationship with physical and mental health.