Harnessing placebo: Lessons from psychedelic science.
Chloé Pronovost-Morgan, Ido Hartogsohn, Johannes G. Ramaekers
J Psychopharmacol June 30, 2023 DOI: 10.1177/02698811231182602 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 33 |
| Key points | Proposes a framework inspired by psychedelic science's "set and setting" concept to reintegrate nondrug variables into biomedicine and ethically harness placebo effects. |
Abstract
The randomized controlled trial (RCT) research design assumes that a drug's "specific" effect can be isolated, added, and subtracted from the "nonspecific" effect of context and person. While RCTs are helpful in assessing the added benefit of a novel drug, they tend to obscure the curative potential of extra-pharmacological variables, known as "the placebo effect." Ample empirical evidence suggests that person/context-dependent physical, social, and cultural variables not only add to, but also shape drug effects, making them worth harnessing for patient benefits. Nevertheless, utilizing placebo effects in medicine is challenging due to conceptual and normative obstacles. In this article, we propose a new framework inspired by the field of psychedelic science and its employment of the "set and setting" concept. This framework acknowledges that drug and nondrug factors have an interactive and synergistic relationship. From it, we suggest ways to reintegrate nondrug variables into the biomedical toolbox, to ethically harness the placebo effect for improved clinical care.