The placebo effect is real, measurable, and often stronger in children than adults, yet it’s routinely underused. This update explains the neurobiology behind placebo response, how "placebo by proxy" shapes outcomes through caregiver expectations, and how to use open-label placebo approaches ethically and effectively in everyday clinical practice.

Can kids and teens "catch" mental illness from the internet? This clinical update covers how to assess the degree of media influence on symptoms that children and adolescents report and how to talk with kids and teens about self-diagnoses in a way that builds a collaborative exploratory treatment relationship.