Conditioned placebo dose reduction: a new treatment in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder?

Summary: Can we "trick" the brain into needing less medication? A fascinating new study suggests the answer is "yes" for children with ADHD. Researchers found that when children took only half their usual dose of stimulant medication but paired it with a "placebo" pill they knew was fake, they did just as well as children taking the full dose. Even more surprising, this "conditioned" group had fewer side effects than those on the full dose. However, children who took the half dose without the placebo pairing saw their symptoms get worse. This suggests that the ritual of taking the pill—even a fake one—helps the medication work better, potentially allowing for lower doses and fewer side effects.