Guidelines for Designing Mind Altering Placebos
Want to design a non-pharmaceutical that nevertheless produces real clinical outcomes? Here are some guidelines:
1. Have a convincing beside manner when delivering the placebo (lie well)
2. Use the right color (yellow for antidepressants, red for stimulants, green anti-anxiety, white antacids)
3. Prescribe frequent doses (4 times a day is better than twice per day)
4. Stamp them with widely recognized brand names that correspond to the desired effect (Valium = chill out)
5. Use clever and suggestive names (Viagra = Vigorous + Niagara)
Source: Placebos are Getting More Effective.
