WOMEN affected by premenstrual syndrome (PMS) appear to experience less intense and debilitating symptoms after taking placebo pills - even when told they do not contain any active medication - a study has found.
PMS can cause symptoms such as irritability, depressed mood and mood swings, as well as breast tenderness, bloating and joint pain.
Prescribed treatments to help with PMS, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and hormonal agents like oral contraceptives and danazol, are often associated with sideeffects.
Open-label placebos (OLPs) - placebos that are provided with full transparency - have been shown to help with various complaints, including irritable bowel syndrome, chronic low back pain and menopausal hot flushes, so researchers were keen to see if they could help with PMS.
They carried out a trial involving 150 women aged 18-45 who had PMS or premenstrual dysphoric disorder and treated them for six weeks.
They were divided into three groups, and received their usual treatment; a placebo; or a placebo, along with information about how placebos could potentially ease symptoms (the OLP group).
Those in the OLP group experienced a greater reduction in intensity of symptoms and greater reduction in interference in their lives than the other groups, and had no side effects.
The women in the placebo group fared next best, while those in the 'usual treatment' group fared worst.
"OLP treatment could serve as an acceptable, efficacious, and safe intervention for PMS," the authors concluded.
Read the study HERE.
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