Optimizing Expectations via Mobile Apps

A New Approach for Examining and Enhancing Placebo Effects

Bibliographic Data

ID15525205
AuthorsPiotr Gruszka (Ruhr University Bochum, corresponding author), Christoph Burger (0000-0002-9923-5111, University of Vienna), Mark P Jensen (0000-0003-3392-9767, University of Washington)
Year2019
Volume10
Pages365-365
Publication date2019-05-31
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00365
PMID31214057
OpenAlexW2947781084
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited21

There is growing interest in interventions that enhance placebo responses in clinical practice, given the possibility that this would lead to better patient health and more effective therapy outcomes. Previous studies suggest that placebo effects can be maximized by optimizing patients' outcome expectations. However, expectancy interventions are difficult to validate because of methodological challenges, such as reliable blinding of the clinician providing the intervention. Here we propose a novel approach using mobile apps that can provide highly standardized expectancy interventions in a blinded manner, while at the same time assessing data in everyday life using experience sampling methodology (e.g., symptom severity, expectations) and data from smartphone sensors. Methodological advantages include: 1) full standardization; 2) reliable blinding and randomization; 3) disentangling expectation effects from other factors associated with face-to-face interventions; 4) assessing short-term (days), long-term (months), and cumulative effects of expectancy interventions; and 5) investigating possible mechanisms of change. Randomization and expectancy interventions can be realized by the app (e.g., after the clinic/lab visit). As a result, studies can be blinded without the possibility for the clinician to influence study outcomes. Possible app-based expectancy interventions include, for example, verbal suggestions and imagery exercises, although a large number of possible interventions (e.g., hypnosis) could be evaluated using this innovative approach

Alternative medicine · Blinding · Expectancy theory · Intervention (counseling · Life expectancy · Placebo · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Randomized controlled trial · Standardization · Applied Psychology · Clinical Psychology · Computer Science · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Medicine · Pain Management and Placebo Effect · Psychology · Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments · Social Psychology