The role of the communicated treatment rationale on treatment outcome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Placebo effects are a well-established phenomenon in the treatment of depression. However, the mechanism underlying these effects are not fully understood. Treatment expectations are considered one explanation for why placebos work. Treatment expectations are likely to be affected by clinician-patient interactions. This study aims to investigate the role of the communicated treatment rationale in modulating treatment expectations and its effects on the treatment outcomes of a pharmacological and a psychological active placebo intervention for depression. In this study, treatment expectations are modulated by presenting illness models that are either congruent or incongruent with the treatment intervention that follows.

Methods

This 2 × 2 randomized controlled tria

SUBMITTER: Henrich L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10433650 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature