The placebo effect and panic attacks

At the University of Toronto a study was conducted to look into the “therapeutic response” of panic disorder in patients who experienced acute panic attacks. At the end of a four week study, both placebo patients and patients taking medication had normal sleep patterns, when compared to patients in the control group. The study randomly divided 27 patients into three groups. One group took anti-panic drug clonazepam, another took a placebo, and a third took nothing. All groups had their sleep patterns and behavior measured throughout the day. Interestingly, the placebo patients showed a decrease in depression that was not shown in the group taking clonazepam. This finding again points to a tremendous benefit of placebos: they work with our experience of the world, and don't require drugs with side effects.

B Baker, Y Khaykin, G Devins, P Dorian, C Shapiro, D Newman - Response in panic disorder presenting with palpitations - University of Toronto