Editorial: Optimizing the therapeutic potential in clinical settings: leveraging placebos and mitigating nocebo effects

Placebo and nocebo effects are not peripheral phenomena in healthcare: rather, they are embedded within therapeutic encounters. Despite decades of research elucidating their psychosocial and neurobiological mechanisms, however, their systematic translation into clinical practice remains limited. This Research Topic was designed to address this translational gap and answer several key questions: How can placebo effects be ethically and effectively leveraged in real-world care? How can nocebo effects be mitigated without compromising transparency and patient autonomy? In addition, how can clinicians and researchers find common ground in conceptualizing and measuring contextual influences? The 12 contributions included in this Research Topic advance this agenda by examining conceptual clarity, implementation strategies, patient perspectives, legal frameworks, communication practices, and neurobiological mechanisms.