A take-home placebo treatment can reduce stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression in a non-patient population
A take-home placebo treatment can reduce stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression in a non-patient population
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DOI：
10.1177/0004867415621390
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发表时间：
2016-09-01
影响因子：
4.6
通讯作者：
Consedine, Nathan S.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Darragh, Margot;Yow, Boris;Consedine, Nathan S.
背景：随着医疗保健系统负担症状和心理健康相关的条件，安慰剂效应可能是一个有用的临床工具。然而，首先，有必要扩大研究的关注范围，并在实验室之外和实验疼痛之外调查安慰剂效应。本研究调查了一种带回家的安慰剂治疗在短期内缓解非患者人群的压力、焦虑和抑郁症状的有效性。方法：77名参与者被随机分为“催产素”治疗组（n=22）、“血清素”治疗组（n=22）和等候名单对照组（n=33）。两个治疗组给予抗压力治疗喷雾（安慰剂），自行服用3天，并在3天方案前后完成感知压力（感知压力量表-10），焦虑（认知躯体焦虑问卷）和抑郁症状（流行病学研究中心-抑郁）的在线测量。结果：血清素和催产素治疗喷雾剂均能有效减轻抑郁症状；然而，与对照组相比，只有催产素组的人报告说压力和焦虑有所减轻。总的来说，催产素被认为更有效。结论：安慰剂效应可以在现实生活中转化为短期减轻非患者人群的压力、焦虑和抑郁症状。在治疗心理困扰时，安慰剂可能是治疗方案中有用的补充。治疗时提供的信息也可能是医生的重要考虑因素。
Background: With a healthcare system burdened by symptomatic and mental-health related conditions, the placebo effect may represent a useful clinical tool. First, however, there is a need to broaden research attention and investigate placebo effects outside laboratories and beyond experimental pain. This study investigated the effectiveness of a take-home placebo treatment in the short-term alleviation of stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression in a non-patient population.Method: A sample of 77 participants was randomized to either the oxytocin' treatment group (n=22), the serotonin' treatment group (n=22) or the wait-list control group (n=33). The two treatment groups were given an anti-stress treatment spray' (placebo) to self-administer for 3 days, and completed online measures of perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10), anxiety (Cognitive Somatic Anxiety Questionnaire) and symptoms of depression (Centre for Epidemiological Studies - Depression) before and after the 3-day protocol.Results: Both the serotonin' and oxytocin' treatment sprays were effective in reducing symptoms of depression; however, only those in the oxytocin' group reported less stress and anxiety as compared with controls. Overall, the oxytocin' was perceived as more effective.Conclusion: Placebo effects can be translated to a real-life setting in the short-term reduction of stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression in a non-patient population. In treating psychological distress, placebos may be useful addition to the treatment repertoire. The information given with treatment may also be an important consideration for practitioners.