The Role of Expectations in the Pharmacological Treatment of Depression - An Experimental Investigation

The Role of Expectations in the Pharmacological Treatment of Depression - An Experimental Investigation

The study aimes at identifying whether positive expectations have an impact on the way depressive participants experience emotions in the form of sadness.

Inclusion Criteria:

• major depression (mild to moderate)
• fluent in German language

Exclusion Criteria:

• bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, substance dependence
• cardiovascular disease, severe kidney or liver disease, epilepsy
• change of psychotropic medication intake within the last four weeks
• allergic to capsaicin
• allergic to sesame oil
• students in medicine, pharmacy, or psychology in their third year or older
• completed studies in medicine, pharmacy or psychology