Seems like it. The numbers are in. Long in, actually. The effectiveness of the placebo effect has been rising.
Why? That part is still speculation. Some possiblities:
1. Humans are dumber nowadays.
2. Drug advertisement campaigns are more effective at convincing people that drugs are great.
3. Drugs are actually becoming more effective. Therefore, people have come to expect them to work more. Therefore, they expect the hidden placebo to work better also.
4. Corresponds with the government’s super-secret mind-control drug program.
Although I think reason #4 is the neatest and coolest. I’d put money on #3 with a little bit of #2 mixed in.
And reason #1 is simply not true. The opposite is true if the multi-generational IQ studies are considered.
Ironically, the increased placebo effect is raising the bar for new drugs. In fact, some of the older drugs would not pass trial anymore because they would not be more effective than the new higher placebo effect numbers.