The Placebo Effect as Treatment for Depression
In this evidence-based synthesis paper, I reviewed 15 empirical studies between 2015 and 2025 to summarize the effectiveness of placebo treatment for depression. In addition, I utilized the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5 TR) to underscore the clinical aspects of depression with a greater focus on the diagnostic criteria. The number of individuals diagnosed with depression has increased significantly over the past few decades, and researchers have been tasked with finding alternative treatments for this population. Given the low-risk nature of placebo treatments, there have been increased efforts to evaluate placebo treatments in clinical settings. In this paper, I outlined the specific features of the placebo effect, delving into its history, complexities, success, ethical concerns, and its effectiveness. With the rise in placebo research, scientists have found that individuals with depression are highly influenced by the placebo effect, especially when compared to individuals who are taking antidepressants. Aside from medication, placebos have been compared to alternative approaches to treatment, such as psychotherapy and physical exercise, along with the benefits of the cooccurrence of multiple treatments. Ethical concerns regarding deception and the nocebo effect have been debated within the scientific community, with the consensus being that open-label placebos are the moral solution to treatment. While there have been successful studies on open-label placebos for depression, it is evident that a larger sample of participants is needed for this type of study. Furthermore, studies on placebo treatment approaches have found that the dual expectations of participants and researchers play a large role in the success of the placebo. Moving forward, it is important to foster safe and positive environments within research studies and clinical settings to maximize the impact of placebo treatments.
PSY 499, Senior Capstone
Erin Mueller
Siefke 100
10 – 10:30 AM