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EAST LANSING, Mich. – The power of the mind to heal itself has long been recognized, but a new study takes this concept to a surprising level. Researchers have found that placebo pills can effectively reduce stress and anxiety symptoms — even when a patient knows they’re taking a placebo.
The recent study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being explores how these “honest pills” could be a useful way to provide relief before turning to prescription drugs.
Researchers from Michigan State University, Miami University, and the University of California-San Francisco conducted a two-week experiment during the COVID-19 pandemic. They wanted to see if non-deceptive placebos could help people experiencing prolonged stress from the pandemic.
The study involved 61 young adults (mostly women) who reported moderate levels of COVID-related stress. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one that received the non-deceptive placebo intervention and a control group that didn’t receive any treatment.
The placebo group watched educational videos about how placebos work and were instructed to take placebo pills twice daily for two weeks. These pills contained no active ingredients – just inert substances like microcrystalline cellulose. Importantly, participants knew they were taking placebos and were told that these inactive pills could still have beneficial effects.
Both groups completed surveys measuring their levels of COVID-related stress, overall stress, anxiety, and depression at the beginning, middle, and end of the study.
The results were striking. After just two weeks, the placebo group reported significant reductions in all measured areas compared to the control group. They experienced less COVID-related stress, lower overall stress levels, and fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression.
“Exposure to long-term stress can impair a person’s ability to manage emotions and cause significant mental health problems long-term, so we’re excited to see that an intervention that takes minimal effort can still lead to significant benefits,” says Jason Moser, co-author of the study and professor in MSU’s Department of Psychology, in a statement. “This minimal burden makes nondeceptive placebos an attractive intervention for those with significant stress, anxiety and depression.”
What’s particularly noteworthy is that these improvements occurred even though participants knew they were taking inactive pills. This challenges the long-held belief that placebos only work when people are deceived about receiving active treatment.
The study also examined how participants perceived the placebo intervention. Most found it easy to use, acceptable, and appropriate for managing stress. They reported high adherence rates, taking about 92% of the prescribed placebo pills over the two-week period.
These findings have important implications for mental health treatment, especially in situations where traditional therapies may be difficult to access or too time-consuming. Non-deceptive placebos offer a low-cost, low-effort alternative that could help prevent stress from escalating into more severe mental health issues.
While the study shows promise, the researchers caution that more extensive research is necessary to determine if non-deceptive placebos can be effective across different types of prolonged stress situations and for people with clinical mental health conditions.
Paper Summary
Methodology
The researchers employed a randomized controlled trial design to investigate the efficacy of non-deceptive placebos. They recruited volunteers experiencing COVID-related stress and screened them to identify those with moderate stress levels. Participants were then randomly assigned to either the placebo group or the control group.
The placebo group received educational materials about placebos through videos and a presentation, followed by inactive pills to be taken twice daily for two weeks. The control group did not receive any intervention. Both groups completed surveys at baseline, midpoint (one week), and endpoint (two weeks), measuring COVID-related stress, overall stress, anxiety, and depression. Statistical analyses were used to compare changes in these measures between the two groups over time, as well as to assess the placebo group’s perceptions of the intervention.
Key Results
The study’s findings revealed significant improvements in the placebo group compared to the control group after two weeks. Participants taking placebos experienced greater reductions in COVID-related stress, overall stress levels, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms. Notably, anxiety and depression symptoms decreased significantly in the placebo group while remaining relatively stable in the control group.
Additionally, the placebo group reported finding the intervention feasible, acceptable, and appropriate for managing stress. They demonstrated high adherence rates, taking approximately 92% of the prescribed placebo pills throughout the study period.
Study Limitations
The researchers acknowledged several limitations to their study. The sample size was relatively small, consisting of only 61 participants, who were predominantly young, white females. Due to logistical constraints, the placebo group was informed about their treatment before baseline measurements were taken, which could have influenced initial responses.
The placebo group also received more time and attention due to the educational component of the intervention, potentially impacting the results. The study relied on self-reported symptoms, which can be subject to bias. Lastly, the short duration of two weeks limits understanding of long-term effects.
Discussion & Takeaways
This study’s findings suggest that non-deceptive placebos could be a valuable tool for managing stress and preventing the development of more severe mental health issues. The research challenges conventional wisdom by demonstrating that placebos can be effective even when people are aware they are inactive. The successful remote administration of placebos indicates potential for increased accessibility to mental health interventions.
The ease of use and minimal effort required make non-deceptive placebos particularly suitable for individuals struggling with low motivation or impaired self-regulation. This approach could be especially useful in situations where traditional mental health services are limited or inaccessible. However, the researchers emphasize the need for further research to understand how non-deceptive placebos work in different contexts and for diverse populations.
Funding & Disclosures
The study was funded by the College of Social Science’s Research Committee at Michigan State University through the COVID-19 Small Grant Competition. The authors declared no conflicts of interest, ensuring transparency in the research process and results.
