Study: Even A Placebo Can Reduce Anxiety

Mind over matter! Researchers from three different universities found that placebos reduce stress and anxiety symptoms…even when the patient knows they’re taking a placebo. Participants took placebo pills with no active ingredients for two weeks, and were told that even inactive pills could provide benefits. After two weeks, the group experienced lower stress levels. This unusual finding challenges the idea that a placebo only works if the patient doesn’t know they’re taking a placebo. “This minimal burden makes nondeceptive placebos an attractive intervention for those with significant stress, anxiety and depression,” study co-author Jason Moser said. (Study Finds)