Not long ago in the British press there was much talk of the research (some of which was reviewed by Irving Kirsh-an excellent presenter as I can attest) that shows antidepressants such as Prozac are little more effective that a simple (and much cheaper) sugar pill given to someone who is told they are receiving a ‘real’ antidepressant.

It’s long been known that placebos work about as well as antidepressants see Prozac, used by 40m people, does not work say scientists and Anti-depressants ‘no better than dummy pills’

The writers tend to focus on the fact that the medication is not that effective but what really strikes me is how effective positive expectation is. The placebo is one of the most reliable medications we have it seems! At least when it comes to treating the ‘disease’ of depression.

Expectation is enormously powerful and occurs when we ‘buy in’ to something. Expectation can: switch off pain, lower or raise blood pressure, clear skin conditions, make us sick, make us well, cause us to blister if we expect and believe we have been touched by something scolding (even when we haven’t), and so forth.

Once the expectation is ’set’ then our mind and body will do all they can to fulfill that expectation just like a post hypnotic response

This is not to say that just ‘being positive’ will lift depression. Coming out of depression is about acquiring skills and habits and living in such a way that basic emotional needs are met and anxieties abated but never the less expectation how profound psychobiological impacts.

Psychotherapists should certainly know how expectation works in everyday life and how to use it for therapeutic advantage. On the uncommon knowledge hypnotherapy diploma we teach budding hypnotherapy students to use language as a way of engendering positive expectancy. Because if a sugar pill can help lift depression then ‘words as placebo’ certainly can.

Mark