The clinical phenomenology of skin-picking disorder - Are there any obsessive-compulsive components?

Background: Skin-picking disorder (SPD) is currently conceptualized as a condition related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The present study investigated whether the emotional, cognitive, and somatic components of skin-picking episodes align with this conceptual framework.

Method: A total of 134 patients diagnosed with SPD (mean age = 32 years; 84 % female; average symptom duration: 16 years) underwent in-person clinical assessment.

Effects of an open-label placebo on visual attention directed to food high in sugar, appetite, and desire for sweet taste.

Background: Interventions with deceptive placebos can reduce visual attention directed to high-calorie sweets. Open-label placebos (OLPs), which avoid the ethical concerns associated with deception, have shown promise in various fields. This is the first study to test the effects of OLPs on appetite, desire for sweet taste and visual attention for high-sugar foods.

Effects of Open-Label Placebos on Visual Food Cue Reactivity in Children and Adolescents.

Background: A high level of food cue reactivity (FCR) is a risk factor for overeating and weight gain. This randomized trial investigated whether open-label placebos (OLPs: placebos honestly administered) can reduce FCR (reported appetite) in children and adolescents.

Method: Children ( = 73; 8-12 years old) and adolescents ( = 187; 16-18 years old) were randomly assigned to either an OLP group or a control group (without OLP).

Neural correlates of expected and perceived treatment efficacy concerning open-label placebos for reducing emotional distress.

Background: Treatment expectations for open-label placebos (OLPs) - placebos prescribed transparently - refer to what a person anticipates will happen as a result of taking the placebo. The actual outcome of OLP treatment may deviate from the initial expectation.

Method: A total of 108 participants received OLP treatment for reducing visually induced emotional distress during functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Placebo Effects on the Enjoyment of Physical Activity and Performance among Kindergarten Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Studies with adults and school children have shown that placebos can enhance motivation and performance in physical activities. This study aimed to investigate whether similar effects are present in kindergarten-aged children. A total of 101 children (58 girls, 43 boys) aged 3 to 6 years were randomly assigned to one of two groups that either received a deceptive placebo (DP: "magic potion") or a nondeceptive placebo (NDP: "water") to enhance physical abilities.