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Open-label placebos enhance test performance and reduce anxiety in learner drivers: a randomized controlled trial
Michael Schaefer1, Sören Enge2
1Medical School Berlin, 12247, Berlin, Germany. michael.schaefer@medicalschool-berlin.de.
Scientific Reports
|March 21, 2024
Summary
Open-label placebos, a novel treatment, significantly reduced anxiety and improved driving test pass rates for learner drivers. This ethical approach offers a promising method to manage test-related stress and enhance performance.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Medical Ethics
Background:
- Driving tests present significant challenges, with high failure rates (up to 52%) contributing to learner driver stress and anxiety.
- Extreme anxiety can negatively impact driving test performance.
- Open-label placebos (OLPs), administered without deception, have shown promise in reducing anxiety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of open-label placebos in reducing anxiety among learner drivers.
- To determine if OLPs can improve driving test performance and pass rates.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-eight healthy participants were randomized into an OLP group (placebo pills for two weeks) and a control group (no treatment).
- Anxiety levels were measured using the State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory (STAI-S) and the German Test Anxiety Inventory (PAF).
- Driving test outcomes were recorded for both groups.
Main Results:
- The OLP group reported significantly lower anxiety levels before the test compared to the control group.
- The failure rate in the OLP group was substantially lower (29.41%) than in the control group (52.95%).
Conclusions:
- Open-label placebos represent an ethical and effective strategy for reducing anxiety in learner drivers.
- OLPs may enhance the likelihood of passing the driving test, offering a novel intervention for performance enhancement.
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