Placebo Effects in the Treatment of Depression-Implications for the Psychedelic Renaissance.
Mina Ansari, Sophie I Elliott, Sophie E Holmes, Gerard Sanacora
Neurologic Clinics February 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncl.2025.08.009 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Individuals with mental illness (depression, PTSD) |
| Topics | Ketamine MDMA Psilocybin Psychedelic-assisted therapy Depression |
| Keywords | Antidepressant Masking Unblinding Placebo effect Clinical trial design Depression treatment |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Placebo effects in depression trials are influenced by expectancy, therapeutic setting, and trial design, and these factors are particularly relevant for evaluating psychedelic-like compounds. |
Abstract
The development of novel, rapid-acting treatments and the resurgence of interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelic-like compounds has stimulated excitement and enthusiasm within the pharmaceutical industry, and provided new hope for millions of individuals suffering with mental illness such as major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. This review summarizes the scope and mechanisms of placebo related effects in depression treatment trials, with a particular focus on their implications for psychedelic-like compounds. We examine how expectancy, therapeutic setting, and trial design interact to shape outcomes and consider emerging approaches for mitigating, measuring, or even harnessing placebo-effects in future research.