
Taking placebos can be just as effective as the real medication, study suggests�
A new study appears to have put the argument about the effectiveness of placebos to rest by showing the positive impact it had on its participants.
The psychological effects of placebos are long-debated. To find out if they can have therapeutic benefits, a group of scientists administered “non-deception” placebos to people during the coronavirus pandemic to be met with unexpected outcomes.

Study shows placebos can reduce certain mental conditions
The link between the mind and chronic pain has been established by several studies and the latest research further proves that placebos can be as effective as real medicine for less severe forms of mental conditions.
The coronavirus pandemic took a huge toll on people’s mental health. Therefore, the researchers selected participants who reported emotions such as anxiety, depression and stress to administer nondeceptive placebos.
The participants involved in the study were aware that they received placebos, along with virtual sessions on Zoom with the researchers regarding information on the treatment given to them.
The study, published in�Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, found that the nondeceptive group showed a significant decrease in stress, anxiety, and depression in just two weeks.
Meanwhile, the no-treatment control group took no pills and showed no significant changes to their mood. Those who were administered placebos said the pills were easy to use, not burdensome, and appropriate for the situation, writes Science Daily.
Researchers hopeful of its use in mental health services
Lack of adequate resources is one of the main reasons for untreated or undiagnosed mental conditions. Researchers hope that the latest study on the effects of placebos can be of help in curbing the issue.
If nondeceptive placebos can relieve the symptoms of stress, anxiety, or depression, healthcare providers can use them to treat patients remotely when they lack traditional mental health services.
Jason Moser, the co-author of the study and professor in MSU’s Department of Psychology, said: “This minimal burden makes nondeceptive placebos an attractive intervention for those with significant stress, anxiety, and depression.”
“This ability to administer nondeceptive placebos remotely increases scalability potential dramatically,” added Darwin Guevarra, co-author of the study and postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, San Francisco.