INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF AN OPEN LABEL PLACEBO ON ROMANTIC BREAKUP RECOVERY: A FEASIBILITY STUDY

Abstract

This study examined the feasibility of an open label placebo experiment, investigating the effects of an open label placebo (OLP) on psychological recovery from a romantic breakup amongst college students at the University of Arizona. Previous research has shown that an OLP, wherein participants are aware they are receiving a placebo, can be successful in improving symptoms and various conditions such as IBS, ADHD, migraines, and sleep disorders. Participants were randomized into either the experimental group, where they were given a placebo pill as treatment, or the control group, where they solely participated in the study and answered questionnaires at each assessment period. Although all participants declined in their self-reported distress over time, there were no differences between the experimental and control groups in recovery from romantic breakups any of the four outcome assessments. Although this study is possible to conduct, it was not feasible for us due to the difficulty in participant recruitment. Because we did not have a budget to provide monetary compensation for participants upon completion of the study, there was no incentive for individuals to participate.