The placebo effect and psychedelic drugs: Tripping on nothing?

[Jagube]

A new study suggests that, in the right context, some people may experience psychedelic-like effects from placebos alone. The researchers reported some of the strongest placebo effects on consciousness in the literature relating to psychedelic drugs. Indeed, 61% of the participants in the experiment reported some effect after consuming the placebo.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200330181658.htm

Original paper: Tripping on nothing: placebo psychedelics and contextual factors - Psychopharmacology

There was considerable individual variation in the placebo effects; many participants reported no changes while others showed effects with magnitudes typically associated with moderate or high doses of psilocybin. In addition, the majority (61%) of participants verbally reported some effect of the drug. Several stated that they saw the paintings on the walls “move” or “reshape” themselves, others felt “heavy… as if gravity [had] a stronger hold”, and one had a “come down” before another “wave” hit her.

I think this is an important finding as it may guide the design of placebo-controlled studies of psychedelics.

 

[waitfornever]

Thanks for the article!

I've never even thought about this seriously. I like the thinking, any excuse to allow more research into psychedelics is a good one.

 

[downwardsfromzero]

This must be why mere representation of a material as being a controlled substance is also a felony.