A team of scientists has found that even placebos can help reduce stress, anxiety and depression in people remotely.The study, published in the journal Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, found that the non-deceptive group showed a significant decrease in stress, anxiety and depression in just two weeks compared to the no-treatment control group.
Participants also reported that the non-deceptive placebos were easy to use, not burdensome and appropriate for the situation.
For the study, researchers recruited participants experiencing prolonged stress from the pandemic for a two-week randomised controlled trial.
The participants interacted with a researcher online through four virtual sessions on Zoom.
Those in the non-deceptive placebo group received information on the placebo effect and were sent placebo pills in the mail along with and instructions on taking the pills.
Jason Moser, co-author and professor in Michigan State University’s Department of Psychology, said that exposure to long-term stress can impair a person’s ability to manage emotions and cause significant mental health problems long-term.
“We are excited to see that an intervention that takes minimal effort can still lead to significant benefits,” Moser added. “This minimal burden makes non-deceptive placebos an attractive intervention for those with significant stress, anxiety and depression.”