Open-label placebo treatment does not enhance cognitive abilities in healthy volunteers
Abstract The use of so-called ‘smart drugs’ such as modafinil to improve cognitive performance has recently attracted considerable attention. However, their side effects have limited user enthusiasm. Open-label placebo (OLP) treatment, i.e., inert treatments that are openly disclosed to individuals...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45979-3 |
| _version_ | 1797630210857762816 |
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| author | Helena Hartmann Katarina Forkmann Katharina Schmidt Julian Kleine-Borgmann Johanna Albers Katja Wiech Ulrike Bingel |
| author_facet | Helena Hartmann Katarina Forkmann Katharina Schmidt Julian Kleine-Borgmann Johanna Albers Katja Wiech Ulrike Bingel |
| author_sort | Helena Hartmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The use of so-called ‘smart drugs’ such as modafinil to improve cognitive performance has recently attracted considerable attention. However, their side effects have limited user enthusiasm. Open-label placebo (OLP) treatment, i.e., inert treatments that are openly disclosed to individuals as having no active pharmacological ingredient, has been shown to improve various medical symptoms and conditions, including those related to cognitive performance. OLP treatment could therefore be an exciting alternative to pharmacological cognitive enhancers. Here, we used a randomized-controlled design to investigate the effect of a 21-day OLP treatment on several sub-domains of cognitive performance in N = 78 healthy volunteers. Subjective and objective measures of cognitive performance as well as different measures of well-being were obtained before and after the treatment period. Using a combination of classic Frequentist and Bayesian analysis approaches showed no additional benefit from OLP treatment in any of the subjective or objective measures of cognitive performance. Our study thus highlights possible limitations of OLP treatment in boosting cognitive performance in healthy volunteers. These findings are discussed in the light of expectancy-value considerations that may determine OLP efficacy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:04:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-01593093d8574893a68136aa677ffd1c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:04:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-01593093d8574893a68136aa677ffd1c2023-11-12T12:15:47ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-11-0113111310.1038/s41598-023-45979-3Open-label placebo treatment does not enhance cognitive abilities in healthy volunteersHelena Hartmann0Katarina Forkmann1Katharina Schmidt2Julian Kleine-Borgmann3Johanna Albers4Katja Wiech5Ulrike Bingel6Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital EssenClinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital EssenClinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital EssenClinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital EssenClinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital EssenNuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of OxfordClinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital EssenAbstract The use of so-called ‘smart drugs’ such as modafinil to improve cognitive performance has recently attracted considerable attention. However, their side effects have limited user enthusiasm. Open-label placebo (OLP) treatment, i.e., inert treatments that are openly disclosed to individuals as having no active pharmacological ingredient, has been shown to improve various medical symptoms and conditions, including those related to cognitive performance. OLP treatment could therefore be an exciting alternative to pharmacological cognitive enhancers. Here, we used a randomized-controlled design to investigate the effect of a 21-day OLP treatment on several sub-domains of cognitive performance in N = 78 healthy volunteers. Subjective and objective measures of cognitive performance as well as different measures of well-being were obtained before and after the treatment period. Using a combination of classic Frequentist and Bayesian analysis approaches showed no additional benefit from OLP treatment in any of the subjective or objective measures of cognitive performance. Our study thus highlights possible limitations of OLP treatment in boosting cognitive performance in healthy volunteers. These findings are discussed in the light of expectancy-value considerations that may determine OLP efficacy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45979-3 |
| spellingShingle | Helena Hartmann Katarina Forkmann Katharina Schmidt Julian Kleine-Borgmann Johanna Albers Katja Wiech Ulrike Bingel Open-label placebo treatment does not enhance cognitive abilities in healthy volunteers Scientific Reports |
| title | Open-label placebo treatment does not enhance cognitive abilities in healthy volunteers |
| title_full | Open-label placebo treatment does not enhance cognitive abilities in healthy volunteers |
| title_fullStr | Open-label placebo treatment does not enhance cognitive abilities in healthy volunteers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Open-label placebo treatment does not enhance cognitive abilities in healthy volunteers |
| title_short | Open-label placebo treatment does not enhance cognitive abilities in healthy volunteers |
| title_sort | open label placebo treatment does not enhance cognitive abilities in healthy volunteers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45979-3 |
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