DefinePK

Abstract

The impact of the surrounding social ecosystem on thewellbeing of an individual is well known. Based on thisconcept in this brief article we propose a novel termcalled the socebo effect, which may be defined as thepositive impact that occurs secondary to a change in thepsychological factors associated with disease, thephysician, the person-physician interaction, and/or thepublic and its healthcare ecosystem. These socialcomforters, act as non drug interventions that help toimprove the overall health related quality of life of a givenindividual. We propose, the socebo construct needs to bestudied objectively, in both acute and chronic disease,including diabetes and obesity.
Keywords: Chronic disease, nocebo, placebo,psychosocial aspects, social pharmacology