Expensive Placebos More Effective in Treating Depression
Researchers from the University of Basel and University Psychiatric Clinics Basel have discovered that more expensive, elaborate placebos can be more effective in treating depressive disorders. This finding adds to the understanding of the placebo effect, which is a positive, beneficial response to a treatment that has no active therapeutic effect.
The placebo effect is influenced by various factors. It is mediated by the professionalism and competence of the person administering the treatment, the context of the intake, and characteristics such as cost, presentation, and rituals. Interestingly, the mere belief that a treatment will improve one's condition can itself cause improvement.
In clinical practice, the placebo effect has been used when patients demand medications unjustifiably, to calm them down, or when other therapeutic options have been exhausted. It is also used in research to verify the effectiveness of treatments by using a control group given a placebo.
Neurophysiological studies show that placebos stimulate the frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, gray matter, and amygdala, activating dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways. The greater the expectation of improvement, the stronger the placebo effect.
The study highlights the importance of the placebo effect in medicine, showing that even the belief in a treatment's effectiveness can lead to improvement. Further research is needed to fully understand and harness this effect for the benefit of patients.
