Study on the molecular mechanism of placebo effect and its application
10.3760/cma.j.cn113661-20230130-00020
- VernacularTitle:安慰剂效应的分子机制研究及应用进展
- Author:
Lei CAI
1
;
Siyuan REN
;
Lin HE
;
Yonggui YUAN
Author Information
1. 上海交通大学Bio-X研究院遗传发育与精神神经疾病教育部重点实验室，上海 200030
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Placebos;
Depressive disorder;
Randomized controlled trial;
Placebo effects;
Integrative framework theory
- From:
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry
2023;56(5):388-394
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
In randomized clinical trials, pharmacologically inactive placebos can induce positive physiological responses in the human body, thereby relieving disease symptoms, known as the placebo effect. This article summarizes the research progress on the mechanism of the placebo effect, introduces the integrative framework theory, and focuses on the study of placebomics and molecular mechanisms of placebo effects. Molecules in signal systems, such as dopamine, opiate substances, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and endogenous cannabinoids, may be involved in the placebo effect. These signal systems are also involved in the occurrence and development of mental illnesses such as depression. It suggests that there may be common molecular mechanisms between the placebo effect and depression, providing new insights for clinical treatment and drug design for depression. Personalized placebos can be applied to replace conventional active drugs for treating depression, and specific medications for depression can be developed by avoiding common molecular mechanisms with placebo effects during the development of antidepressants.
