The nocebo effect can be defined as a negative effect that occurs after receiving treatment (therapy, medication), even when the treatment is inert (inactive, sham).
The potential danger of the nocebo effect is relevant to debates on informed consent law, patient autonomy as well as medical care for health professionals.
The subject-expectancy effect is most commonly found in medicine, where it can result in the subject experiencing the placebo effect or nocebo effect, depending on how the influence pans out.