The Influence of Patient Belief on Depression Therapy Effectiveness
Patients' beliefs about their treatment, whether real or placebo, play a significant role in the effectiveness of neurostimulation treatments for conditions like depression and ADHD, according to a study analyzing five independent studies. The research found that patients' perceptions often had more impact on outcomes than the treatments themselves, with beliefs sometimes fully explaining the results, interacting with the treatment, or having no influence at all. The study highlights the need to consider and record patients' beliefs in clinical research, suggesting it could be a key factor in treatment efficacy across various medical fields.
