Acceptance of Open-Label Placebos Is Linked to Holistic Health Beliefs and Thinking Styles

Open-label placebos (OLPs) have demonstrated benefits across multiple conditions; however, the factors influencing their acceptance or rejection remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the relationship between willingness to take an OLP pill and variables such as thinking styles and health beliefs. We conducted an online survey in Austria with 326 participants (mean age = 33.5 years; 77% female; 57% university students). Given the divergent attitudes toward OLPs, we performed a binary logistic regression analysis (n = 241), excluding participants with intermediate acceptance scores to more clearly distinguish between acceptance and rejection. The results indicated that holistic thinking styles and holistic health beliefs were associated with the willingness to take an OLP. Due to the correlational nature of the study, causal inference is not possible.