Capitol News

A study from Michigan State University has found that non-deceptive placebos, given with full knowledge of their nature, can effectively manage stress, even when administered remotely.

Researchers recruited participants experiencing prolonged stress from the COVID-19 pandemic for a two-week randomized controlled trial. Half of the participants were assigned to a non-deceptive placebo group, while the other half formed a control group that took no pills. Participants interacted with researchers online through four virtual sessions on Zoom. Those in the placebo group received information about the placebo effect and were sent placebo pills by mail along with instructions on their use.

Jason Moser, professor in MSU's Department of Psychology in the College of Social Science, noted significant findings. The study, published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, showed that the non-deceptive placebo group experienced a notable decrease in stress, anxiety, and depression over two weeks compared to the control group. Participants also reported that using non-deceptive placebos was easy and not burdensome.

"Exposure to long-term stress can impair a person’s ability to manage emotions and cause significant mental health problems, so we’re excited to see that an intervention that takes minimal effort can still lead to significant benefits," said Jason Moser. "This minimal burden makes non-deceptive placebos an attractive intervention for those with significant stress, anxiety and depression."

The researchers are optimistic about the potential for remote administration of non-deceptive placebos by healthcare providers.

"This ability to administer non-deceptive placebos remotely increases scalability potential dramatically," said Darwin Guevarra, co-author of the study and postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, San Francisco. "Remotely administered non-deceptive placebos have the potential to help individuals struggling with mental health concerns who otherwise would not have access to traditional mental health services."