The study explored the effects of “nondeceptive” placebos—placebos given to participants who were fully aware that they were taking a placebo—on managing stress. The research was conducted during a period of heightened anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when prolonged stress was a common experience. Participants were enrolled in a two-week randomized controlled trial, with one group receiving the nondeceptive placebo and the other serving as a control group without any intervention (Guevarra et al., 2024).
The participants in the nondeceptive placebo group engaged with researchers online through four virtual Zoom sessions. They were educated about the placebo effect and received placebo pills by mail, accompanied by instructions on how to take them. This process, though straightforward and requiring minimal effort, led to significant outcomes.
Published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, the study found that those in the nondeceptive placebo group experienced a marked reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression within just two weeks compared to the control group. Participants reported that the placebo was easy to use, unintrusive, and well-suited to their needs during the pandemic.
“Exposure to long-term stress can impair a person’s ability to manage emotions and cause significant mental health problems long-term, so we’re excited to see that an intervention that takes minimal effort can still lead to significant benefits,” remarked Jason Moser, a co-author of the study and professor in MSU’s Department of Psychology. This discovery underscores the minimal burden and maximum benefit that nondeceptive placebos can offer, especially in the face of chronic stress, anxiety, and depression.
The research team also highlighted the potential for remote administration of these placebos, which could dramatically increase their accessibility. “This ability to administer nondeceptive 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 nondeceptive placebos have the potential to help individuals struggling with mental health concerns who otherwise would not have access to traditional mental health services.”
This study is a powerful reminder of the intrinsic capacity of our minds to influence our physical and emotional well-being. It suggests that by consciously harnessing the placebo effect, we can significantly enhance the benefits of any therapeutic intervention, whether it be EFT tapping, EcoMeditation, psychotherapy, prescription drugs, or supplements. As I describe in my books like Mind to Matter and Bliss Brain, you can use your beliefs and consciousness as a catalyst for profound healing in your body.
Reference
Guevarra, D. A., Webster, C. T., Moros, J. N., Kross, E., & Moser, J. S. (2024). Remotely administered non‐deceptive placebos reduce COVID‐related stress, anxiety, and depression. Applied Psychology: Health and Well‐Being.
