Remotely administered non‐deceptive placebos reduce COVID‐related stress, anxiety, and depression

Abstract

AbstractResearch suggests that placebos administered without deception (i.e. non‐deceptive placebos) may provide an effective and low‐effort intervention to manage stress and improve mental health. However, whether non‐deceptive placebos administered remotely online can manage distress for people at risk for developing high levels of affective symptoms remains unclear. Volunteers experiencing prolonged stress from the COVID‐19 pandemic were recruited into a randomized controlled trial to examine the efficacy of a non‐deceptive placebo intervention administered remotely online on affective outcomes. COVID‐related stress, overall stress, anxiety, and depression were assessed at baseline, midpoint, and endpoint. Compared with the control group, participants in the non‐deceptive placebo group reported significant reductions from baseline in all primary affective outcomes after 2 weeks. Additionally, participants in the non‐deceptive placebo group found the intervention feasible, acceptable, and appropriate for the context. Non‐deceptive placebos, even when administered remotely online, offer an alternative and effective way to help people manage prolonged stress. Future large‐scale studies are needed to determine if non‐deceptive placebos can be effective across different prolonged stress situations and for clinical populations.