Placebo Resembling an Anti-Depressant can Trick Brain

New research indicates that a placebo, which is similar to an anti-depressant, can trick the brain into responding in the same manner as the real drug.

New research indicates that a placebo, which is similar to an anti-depressant, can "trick" the brain into responding in the same manner as the real drug.

A new study by the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shows that the brain may be influenced by its remembrance of past exposure to such drugs.

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Aimee Hunter, assistant professor of psychiatry at the UCLA and colleagues examined the brains of 89 depressed persons during eight weeks of treatment, using either an anti-depressant or a similar-looking placebo, the journal European Neuropsychopharmacology reports.

Individuals who suffer from major depressive disorder often undergo multiple therapies with anti-depressants, according to an UCLA statement.

This is because the disorder can recur in spite of treatment and because finding the right drug for a specific individual can take time.

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Depression is a common disorder and many worldwide suffer from depression. Early recognition of symptoms and signs of depression can help in taking a holistic approach to the management of depression.