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Skvortsova A, Meeuwis SH, Derksen S, Kerkkänen K, Sutter E, Evers AWM, Veldhuijzen DS. The role of self-reported and physiological stress in nocebo hyperalgesia. Biol Psychol 2024; 190:108818. [PMID: 38762001 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2024.108818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Negative expectations can increase pain sensitivity, leading to nocebo hyperalgesia. However, the physiological and psychological factors that predispose individuals to this phenomenon are still not well understood. The present study examined whether stress induced by a social stressor affects nocebo hyperalgesia, and whether this effect is mediated by self-reported and physiological stress responses. We recruited 52 healthy participants (15 men) who were randomly assigned to either the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or a control condition (a friendly version of the TSST). Nocebo hyperalgesia was induced using negative suggestions combined with a validated pain conditioning paradigm. We assessed self-reported (anxiety and stress) and physiological (cortisol, alpha-amylase, heart rate, and skin conductance) responses to stress. Both groups exhibited significant nocebo hyperalgesia. The stress group showed higher levels of anxiety, self-reported stress, and cortisol levels compared to the control group while no significant differences were found in other physiological markers. The stress and control groups did not differ in the magnitude of nocebo hyperalgesia, but anxiety levels partially mediated the effects of the stress test on nocebo hyperalgesia. Our findings suggest that an external social stressor does not directly affect nocebo hyperalgesia, but that increased anxiety due to the stressor enhances its magnitude. Thus, it may be worthwhile to investigate whether reducing stress-related anxiety in clinical settings would help alleviate nocebo effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Skvortsova
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
| | - S H Meeuwis
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
| | - S Derksen
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
| | - K Kerkkänen
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
| | - E Sutter
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
| | - A W M Evers
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Medical Delta, Leiden University, Technical University Delft and Erasmus University, the Netherlands.
| | - D S Veldhuijzen
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
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Bisio A, Panascì M, Ferrando V, Albergoni A, Ruggeri P, Faelli E. Warm-up plus verbal communications administered as placebo procedure during the training session improves running performance. PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORT AND EXERCISE 2024; 73:102633. [PMID: 38548005 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects on running performance of a within-session placebo procedure consisting of a conditioning treatment plus verbal communications. Twenty-six subjects were assigned to PLACEBO and CONTROL groups. Participants performed three sessions: Session 1-Cooper Test, Session 2-Baseline session and Session 3-Experimental session. During Session 2, participants performed a sprint-interval-training (SIT)-until-exhaustion preceded by a general warm-up, while in Session3 the SIT was preceded by a conditioning treatment (FIFA11+ warm-up), known to be effective in preventing injuries but not improving performance. Moreover, in Session3, only the PLACEBO group received verbal suggestions (before the warm-up) to influence participants' expectations about FIFA11+ effectiveness in improving performance, and deceptive feedback (during each SIT recovery bout) to increase the conditioning effect. To evaluate performance improvements, Running Time was chosen as a main outcome while to ensure participants reached exhaustion, physiological and metabolic responses were monitored. Total running distance (TRD) was also measured. Results showed that, Running Time and TRD significantly increased in the PLACEBO group whilst no differences in the CONTROL group were observed thus, suggesting the effectiveness of the within-session-placebo procedure in improving running performance. These findings shed a new light on the interaction between cognitive domain and performance, thus encouraging coaches to adopt this innovative method during the training protocol to enhance athletes' performance. Moreover, this placebo procedure, not requiring additional time, tools or resources, could represent a more ecological approach that can be easily adopted in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambra Bisio
- Section of Human Physiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Università Degli Studi di Genova, 16132, Genoa, Italy; Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, Università Degli Studi di Genova, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Panascì
- Section of Human Physiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Università Degli Studi di Genova, 16132, Genoa, Italy; Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, Università Degli Studi di Genova, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Vittoria Ferrando
- Section of Human Physiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Università Degli Studi di Genova, 16132, Genoa, Italy; Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, Università Degli Studi di Genova, 16132, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Andrea Albergoni
- Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, Università Degli Studi di Genova, 16132, Genoa, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal Child Health, Università Degli Studi di Genova, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Piero Ruggeri
- Section of Human Physiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Università Degli Studi di Genova, 16132, Genoa, Italy; Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, Università Degli Studi di Genova, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Emanuela Faelli
- Section of Human Physiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Università Degli Studi di Genova, 16132, Genoa, Italy; Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, Università Degli Studi di Genova, 16132, Genoa, Italy
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Reneman MF, Coenen P, Kuijer PPFM, van Dieën JH, Holtemann A, Igwesi-Chidobe CN, Parker R, Reezigt R, Stochkendahl MJ, Hoegh M. Tensions of Low-Back Pain and Lifting; Bridging Clinical Low-Back Pain and Occupational Lifting Guidelines. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL REHABILITATION 2024:10.1007/s10926-024-10210-1. [PMID: 38842652 DOI: 10.1007/s10926-024-10210-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Michiel F Reneman
- Department of Rehabilitation / Center for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Pieter Coenen
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Societal Participation and Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Musculoskeletal Health, Amsterdam Movement Sciences Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - P Paul F M Kuijer
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Netherlands Center for Occupational Diseases, People and Work Outpatient Clinic, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam Movement Sciences Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap H van Dieën
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andreas Holtemann
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Chinonso Nwamaka Igwesi-Chidobe
- School of Allied Health Professions and Midwifery, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
- Global Population Health (GPH) Research Group, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Romy Parker
- Pain Unit, Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Roland Reezigt
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Amsterdam Movement Sciences-Program Musculoskeletal Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Physiotherapy, Academy of Health, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mette J Stochkendahl
- Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Chiropractic Knowledge Hub, Odense, Denmark
| | - Morten Hoegh
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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Yang M, Li QS, Baser RE, Li X, Hou J, Mao JJ. Nocebo expectations rather than placebo expectations affect topical pain relief: A randomized clinical trial. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116728. [PMID: 38733772 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients' expectations and beliefs regarding the potential benefits and harms of medical interventions may induce placebo and nocebo effects, and affect the response to pain therapies. In a randomized clinical trial, we examined the effect of placebo and nocebo expectations on pain relief and adverse events (AEs) in association with a topical treatment among 65 cancer survivors experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain. Participants received either a 1% camphor-based topical pain patch or a placebo treatment for 14 days. We measured pain severity with the worst pain item of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) at baseline and 14 days and treatment expectations at baseline with validated expectation questionnaires. We found that high vs. low nocebo expectations decreased pain severity improvements by 2.5 points (95% confidence interval [CI] -3.8 to -1.2; p<0.001) on a 0-10 numeric rating scale of the BPI and pain response rate by 42.7% (95% CI 0.2-0.6; p<0.001) at day 14, irrespective of placebo expectation status or treatment arms. Patients with high vs. low nocebo expectations in the true arm reported 22.4% more unwanted AEs. High nocebo expectations were associated with increased AEs by 39.5% (odds ratio: 12.0, 95% CI 1.2, 145.5; p=0.029) and decreased pain response in the true arm vs. placebo. Our study demonstrated that nocebo expectations, rather than placebo expectations, elevate the risk of AEs and compromise the effect of topical pain interventions. The findings raise the possibility that nocebo expectations may worsen somatic symptoms through heightening central pain amplification and should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxiao Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Harvard Medical School, 450 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Qing S Li
- Integrative Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 321 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Raymond E Baser
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1250 First Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Xiaotong Li
- Integrative Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 321 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jason Hou
- Integrative Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 321 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jun J Mao
- Integrative Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 321 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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Karacaoglu M, Peerdeman KJ, Karch JD, van Middendorp H, Evers AWM. Nocebo hyperalgesia and other expectancy-related factors in daily fibromyalgia pain: Combining experimental and electronic diary methods. J Psychosom Res 2024; 182:111676. [PMID: 38688078 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2024.111676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Expectancies are known to shape pain experiences, but it remains unclear how different types of expectancies contribute to daily pain fluctuations in fibromyalgia. This combined experimental and diary study aims to provide insights into how experimentally-derived nocebo hyperalgesia and other, diary-derived, expectancy-related factors are associated with each other and with daily pain in fibromyalgia. METHODS Forty-one female patients with fibromyalgia first participated in a lab procedure measuring nocebo hyperalgesia magnitude, then filled out an electronic diary 3 times a day over 3 weeks regarding the expectancy-related factors of pain expectancy, anxiety, optimism, and pain-catastrophizing thoughts, and current pain intensity. RESULTS Our results indicate that experimentally-induced nocebo hyperalgesia was not significantly related to diary-assessed expectancy-related factors and did not predict daily fibromyalgia pain. Higher levels of the self-reported expectancy-related factors pain expectancy and pain catastrophizing, but not anxiety and optimism, predicted moment-to-moment pain increases in fibromyalgia, after controlling for current pain, moment-of-day and all other expectancy-related factors. CONCLUSION Our exploratory research findings indicate that self-reported expectancy-related factors, particularly pain expectancy and pain catastrophizing, are potentially more relevant for predicting daily pain experience than experimentally-induced nocebo hyperalgesia. Further translation of nocebo hyperalgesia is needed from experimental to Ecological Momentary Assessment research. Our findings imply that targeting the decrease in pain expectancy and catastrophizing thoughts e.g., via Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, have potential for improving daily pain levels in fibromyalgia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Karacaoglu
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands; Center for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies Leiden, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
| | - Kaya J Peerdeman
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands; Center for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies Leiden, Leiden University, The Netherlands
| | - Julian D Karch
- Methodology and Statistics Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Henriët van Middendorp
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands; Center for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies Leiden, Leiden University, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea W M Evers
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands; Center for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies Leiden, Leiden University, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Medical Delta, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Leiden University & Delft University of Technology, Rotterdam/Leiden/Delft, The Netherlands
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Huneke NTM, Cross C, Fagan HA, Molteni L, Phillips N, Garner M, Baldwin DS. Placebo Effects Are Small on Average in the 7.5% CO2 Inhalational Model of Generalized Anxiety. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2024; 27:pyae019. [PMID: 38577951 PMCID: PMC11059817 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyae019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and socio-economically costly. Novel pharmacological treatments for these disorders are needed because many patients do not respond to current agents or experience unwanted side effects. However, a barrier to treatment development is the variable and large placebo response rate seen in trials of novel anxiolytics. Despite this, the mechanisms that drive placebo responses in anxiety disorders have been little investigated, possibly due to low availability of convenient experimental paradigms. We aimed to develop and test a novel protocol for inducing placebo anxiolysis in the 7.5% CO2 inhalational model of generalized anxiety in healthy volunteers. METHODS Following a baseline 20-minute CO2 challenge, 32 healthy volunteers were administered a placebo intranasal spray labelled as either the anxiolytic "lorazepam" or "saline." Following this, participants surreptitiously underwent a 20-minute inhalation of normal air. Post-conditioning, a second dose of the placebo was administered, after which participants completed another CO2 challenge. RESULTS Participants administered sham "lorazepam" reported significant positive expectations of reduced anxiety (P = .001), but there was no group-level placebo effect on anxiety following CO2 challenge post-conditioning (Ps > .350). Surprisingly, we found many participants exhibited unexpected worsening of anxiety, despite positive expectations. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to our hypothesis, our novel paradigm did not induce a placebo response, on average. It is possible that effects of 7.5% CO2 inhalation on prefrontal cortex function or behavior in line with a Bayesian predictive coding framework attenuated the effect of expectations on subsequent placebo response. Future studies are needed to explore these possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan T M Huneke
- Southern Health National Health Service Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK
- University Department of Psychiatry, Academic Centre, College Keep, Southampton, UK
| | - Cosmina Cross
- Southern Health National Health Service Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Harry A Fagan
- Southern Health National Health Service Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK
- University Department of Psychiatry, Academic Centre, College Keep, Southampton, UK
| | - Laura Molteni
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK
- University Department of Psychiatry, Academic Centre, College Keep, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Matthew Garner
- Center for Innovation in Mental Health, School of Psychology, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, UK
- University Department of Psychiatry, Academic Centre, College Keep, Southampton, UK
| | - David S Baldwin
- University Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Southern Health National Health Service Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK
- University Department of Psychiatry, Academic Centre, College Keep, Southampton, UK
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Tsigkaropoulou E, Michopoulos I, Porichi E, Dafnas K, Serretti A, Ferentinos P. Temperament and character dimensions explain self-reported resilience deficits in patients with affective disorders. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 2024; 39:59-69. [PMID: 37351577 DOI: 10.1097/yic.0000000000000483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
This is the first study exploring how temperament and character personality dimensions impact self-reported resilience in major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). We included 130 euthymic patients with affective disorders (AFD; 66 MDD and 64 BD) and 134 healthy controls (HC). Connor and Davidson resilience scale and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-140) were administered. Multiple linear regressions and interaction analyses were performed. Mediation analyses examined if personality dimensions explained group differences in resilience. Resilience was lower in MDD and BD vs. HC and in MDD vs. BD, adjusting for sex, age and education. Higher resilience was predicted by lower harm avoidance (HA) and higher persistence (P) in AFD and MDD, lower HA in BD and higher P and self-directedness (SD) in HC. However, only HA and P had a group-specific effect on resilience in AFD vs. HC. In mediation analyses, specific TCI dimensions at least partially explained differences in resilience: HA, P and SD in AFD or MDD vs. HC; SD in BD vs. HC; P in BD vs. MDD. Concludingly, two temperament traits (HA, P) and a character trait (SD) predict resilience in AFD. Focusing on personality could identify sources of compromised resilience as potential treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evdoxia Tsigkaropoulou
- 2nd Department of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'Attikon' University General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Michopoulos
- 2nd Department of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'Attikon' University General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Evgenia Porichi
- 2nd Department of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'Attikon' University General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Dafnas
- 2nd Department of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'Attikon' University General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Alessandro Serretti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Panagiotis Ferentinos
- 2nd Department of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'Attikon' University General Hospital, Athens, Greece
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Bieniek H, Bąbel P. Placebo hypoalgesia induced by operant conditioning: a comparative study on the effects of verbal, token-based, and social rewards and punishers. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20346. [PMID: 37989856 PMCID: PMC10663593 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47482-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Operant conditioning was shown to be a mechanism of placebo hypoalgesia; however, only verbal rewards and punishers were applied in the previous study. We aimed to induce placebo hypoalgesia using more clinically relevant consequences: token-based and social. Participants were divided into three experimental groups (with verbal, social, and token-based rewards and punishers); and two control groups (with and without placebo application). During operant conditioning, participants in the experimental groups received thermal stimuli of equal intensity and were rewarded for reporting lower pain and punished for reporting higher pain compared to their pretest pain levels. The control groups did not receive any consequences. Our results revealed placebo hypoalgesia was induced by operant conditioning only in the experimental groups with social and token-based reinforcement, compared to the control groups. The hypoalgesic effect found in the group that received verbal reinforcement did not differ significantly from the control group with the placebo application. Moreover, expectations about upcoming pain intensity were found to be a mediator, and the number of reinforcers received during conditioning was a predictor of placebo hypoalgesia. These findings highlight the potential benefits of incorporating token-based and social consequences for optimizing treatment outcomes in pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Bieniek
- Institute of Psychology, Pain Research Group, Jagiellonian University, ul. Ingardena 6, 30-060, Kraków, Poland.
- Doctoral School in the Social Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
| | - Przemysław Bąbel
- Institute of Psychology, Pain Research Group, Jagiellonian University, ul. Ingardena 6, 30-060, Kraków, Poland
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Hartmann H, Banwinkler M, Riva F, Lamm C. To respond or not to respond: exploring empathy-related psychological and structural brain differences between placebo analgesia responders and non-responders. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1257522. [PMID: 37849473 PMCID: PMC10577216 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1257522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Placebo responsiveness is highly variable across individuals. In the domain of pain, it may range from pronounced hypoalgesia to no response at all. Which factors predict such variation awaits clarification, as the available literature is characterized by mixed and inconclusive results. Particularly interesting in this case are social factors such as empathy or prosocial behavior, as prior work has stressed the connection between feeling pain yourself and empathizing with pain observed in others. Methods In a mixed confirmatory and exploratory approach, this study investigated potential psychological and structural brain differences between placebo responders and non-responders in the domain of pain. We aggregated data of four behavioral and neuroimaging studies that had been designed to investigate the effects of placebo analgesia on empathy. Results Analyses comparing groups of placebo responders and non-responders showed significant group differences in trait characteristics, with responders reporting increased helping behavior and lower psychopathic traits compared to non-responders. Uncorrected results further showed higher pain-related empathic concern in responders vs. non-responders. These results were accompaniedby tentative group differences in brain structure: placebo analgesia non-responders exhibited increased gray matter volume in left inferior temporal and parietal supramarginal cortical areas, and an increased cortical surface area in bilateral middle temporal cortex. Discussion Together, our findings suggest that modifiability of one's pain perception by means of placebo effects is linked to personality traits characterizing social emotions and behavior. They also hint that these psychological as well as brain structural characteristics might be beneficial for the identification of placebo responders. At the same time, they stress the importance of considering contextual factors such as the study setting or paradigm when investigating the association between individual characteristics and placebo responding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Hartmann
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Magdalena Banwinkler
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Federica Riva
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claus Lamm
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Krockow EM, Emerson T, Youssef E, Scott S, Tromans S. Evidencing general acceptability of open-label placebo use for tackling overtreatment in primary care: a mixed methods study. BMC Med 2023; 21:362. [PMID: 37726759 PMCID: PMC10510165 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-03074-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overtreatment poses a challenge to healthcare systems due to harmful consequences of avoidable side-effects and costs. This study presents the first account for examining the feasibility of placebo use for reducing overtreatment in primary care, including whether public attitudes support the use of different placebo types in place of inappropriate prescriptions of antibiotics, antidepressants, or analgesics. METHODS We used a multi-study, mixed-methods design, including patient and public (PPI) consultations, focus groups (Study 1) and two pre-registered online experiments (Studies 2 and 3). RESULTS Study 1 (N = 16) explored everyday conceptions and practicalities of potential placebo use in the context of respiratory infections. Findings highlighted the importance of trusting doctor-patient relationships and safety-netting. Study 2 employed a randomised experiment with a representative UK sample (N = 980), investigating attitudes towards 5 different treatment options for respiratory infections: (1) blinded + pure placebo, (2) open-label + pure placebo, (3) open-label + impure placebo, (4) antibiotic treatment, and (5) no treatment. Study 2 also examined how attitudes varied based on wording and individual differences. Findings indicated general support (ηp2 = .149, large effect size) for replacing inappropriate antibiotics with open-label + impure placebos, although personal placebo acceptability was lower. Also, older people, individuals suffering from chronic illness or those showing higher levels of health anxiety appeared less amenable to placebo use. Study 3 (N = 1177) compared attitudes towards treatment options across three clinical scenarios: respiratory infection, depression and pain. Findings suggested significant differences in the acceptability of placebo options based on the clinical context. In the infection scenario, options for open-label + pure placebos, open-label + impure placebos and no treatment were rated significantly more acceptable (ηp2 = .116, medium effect size) compared to the depression and pain scenarios. Again, general support for placebos was higher than placebo acceptability for personal use. CONCLUSIONS Findings from PPI and three studies indicate general support for combatting overprescribing in primary care through clinical placebo use. This is an indicator for wider UK public support for a novel, behavioural strategy to target a long-standing healthcare challenge. General acceptability appears to be highest for the use of open-label + impure placebos in the context of antibiotic overprescribing.
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Affiliation(s)
- E M Krockow
- School of Psychology and Vision Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
| | - T Emerson
- School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - E Youssef
- School of Nursing, Kingston University, London, UK
| | - S Scott
- School of Healthcare, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - S Tromans
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
- Adult Learning Disability Service, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Leicester, UK
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Pagnini F, Barbiani D, Cavalera C, Volpato E, Grosso F, Minazzi GA, Vailati Riboni F, Graziano F, Di Tella S, Manzoni GM, Silveri MC, Riva G, Phillips D. Placebo and Nocebo Effects as Bayesian-Brain Phenomena: The Overlooked Role of Likelihood and Attention. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2023; 18:1217-1229. [PMID: 36656800 DOI: 10.1177/17456916221141383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The Bayesian-brain framework applied to placebo responses and other mind-body interactions suggests that the effects on the body result from the interaction between priors, such as expectations and learning, and likelihood, such as somatosensorial information. Significant research in this area focuses on the role of the priors, but the relevance of the likelihood has been surprisingly overlooked. One way of manipulating the relevance of the likelihood is by paying attention to sensorial information. We suggest that attention can influence both precision and position (i.e., the relative distance from the priors) of the likelihood by focusing on specific components of the somatosensorial information. Two forms of attention seem particularly relevant in this framework: mindful attention and selective attention. Attention has the potential to be considered a "major player" in placebo/nocebo research, together with expectations and learning. In terms of application, relying on attentional strategies as "amplifiers" or "silencers" of sensorial information could lead to an active involvement of individuals in shaping their care process and health. In this contribution, we discuss the theoretical implications of these intuitions with the aim to provide a comprehensive framework that includes Bayesian brain, placebo/nocebo effects, and the role of attention in mind-body interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diletta Barbiani
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona
| | - Cesare Cavalera
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
| | - Eleonora Volpato
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Francesca Graziano
- Bicocca Bioinformatics Biostatistics and Bioimaging B4 Center, University of Milano-Bicocca
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano
| | - Sonia Di Tella
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
| | | | | | - Giuseppe Riva
- Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS
- Humane Technology Lab., Catholic University of Milan
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12
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Blythe JS, Peerdeman KJ, Veldhuijzen DS, Karch JD, Evers AWM. Electrophysiological markers for anticipatory processing of nocebo-augmented pain. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288968. [PMID: 37494313 PMCID: PMC10370880 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Nocebo effects on pain are widely thought to be driven by negative expectations. This suggests that anticipatory processing, or some other form of top-down cognitive activity prior to the experience of pain, takes place to form sensory-augmenting expectations. However, little is known about the neural markers of anticipatory processing for nocebo effects. In this event-related potential study on healthy participants (n = 42), we tested whether anticipatory processing for classically conditioned nocebo-augmented pain differed from pain without nocebo augmentation using stimulus preceding negativity (SPN), and Granger Causality (GC). SPN is a slow-wave ERP component thought to measure top-down processing, and GC is a multivariate time series analysis used to measure functional connectivity between brain regions. Fear of pain was assessed with the Fear of Pain Questionnaire-III and tested for correlation with SPN and GC metrics. We found evidence that both anticipatory processing measured with SPN and functional connectivity from frontal to temporoparietal brain regions measured with GC were increased for nocebo pain stimuli relative to control pain stimuli. Other GC node pairs did not yield significant effects, and a lag in the timing of nocebo pain stimuli limited interpretation of the results. No correlations with trait fear of pain measured after the conditioning procedure were detected, indicating that while differences in neural activity could be detected between the anticipation of nocebo and control pain trials, they likely were not related to fear. These results highlight the role that top-down processes play in augmenting sensory perception based on negative expectations before sensation occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph S Blythe
- Health, Medical & Neuropsychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Kaya J Peerdeman
- Health, Medical & Neuropsychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dieuwke S Veldhuijzen
- Health, Medical & Neuropsychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Julian D Karch
- Methodology and Statistics Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea W M Evers
- Health, Medical & Neuropsychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Medical Delta Healthy Society, Delft, The Netherlands
- Leiden University, Technical University Delft, & Erasmus University Rotterdam, Delft, The Netherlands
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13
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Karacaoglu M, Meijer S, Peerdeman KJ, Dusseldorp E, Jensen KB, Veldhuijzen DS, van Middendorp H, Evers AW. Susceptibility to Nocebo Hyperalgesia, Dispositional Optimism, and Trait Anxiety as Predictors of Nocebo Hyperalgesia Reduction. Clin J Pain 2023; 39:259-269. [PMID: 37067990 PMCID: PMC10205122 DOI: 10.1097/ajp.0000000000001112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The current paper explores the psychological predictors of nocebo hyperalgesia and whether the reduction of nocebo hyperalgesia can be predicted by susceptibility to nocebo hyperalgesia and psychological characteristics. METHODS Nocebo effects on pressure pain were first experimentally induced in 83 healthy female participants through conditioning with open-label instructions about the pain-worsening function of a sham TENS device to assess susceptibility to nocebo hyperalgesia. Participants were then randomized to 1 out of 2 nocebo-reduction conditions (counterconditioning/extinction) or to continued nocebo-conditioning (control), each combined with open-label instructions about the new sham device function. Dispositional optimism, trait and state anxiety, pain catastrophizing, fear of pain, and body vigilance were assessed at baseline. RESULTS The results showed that lower optimism and higher trait anxiety were related to a stronger induction of nocebo hyperalgesia. Moreover, a stronger induction of nocebo hyperalgesia and higher trait anxiety predicted a larger nocebo reduction across interventions. Also, nocebo hyperalgesia and optimism moderated the effects of the nocebo-reduction interventions, whereby larger nocebo hyperalgesia and lower optimism were associated with a larger nocebo reduction after counterconditioning, compared with control, and also extinction for larger nocebo hyperalgesia. DISCUSSION Our findings suggest that open-label conditioning leads to stronger nocebo hyperalgesia when trait anxiety is high and dispositional optimism is low, while these psychological characteristics, along with larger nocebo hyperalgesia, also predict open-label counterconditioning to be an effective nocebo-reduction strategy. Susceptibility to nocebo hyperalgesia, trait anxiety, and dispositional optimism might be indicators of a flexible pain regulatory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Karacaoglu
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC)
| | - Simone Meijer
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC)
| | - Kaya J. Peerdeman
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC)
| | | | - Karin B. Jensen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Andrea W.M. Evers
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC)
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden
- Medical Delta, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Leiden University & Delft University of Technology, Rotterdam/Leiden/Delft, The Netherlands
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14
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Gouveia R, Cruz VT, Antão J, Almeida L. Interpersonal Values of Patients Participating in Phase II-III Clinical Trials: Implications for Clinical Trial Representativeness. Pharmaceut Med 2023:10.1007/s40290-023-00479-7. [PMID: 37249821 DOI: 10.1007/s40290-023-00479-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An individual's personal values strongly influence their immediate and long-term decisions. Psychological heterogeneity in clinical trial populations contributes to selection bias and may affect treatment outcomes and inevitably trial results. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to characterize for the first time the main interpersonal values of patients who participated in Phase II and III clinical trials. METHODS This multicenter observational study included 200 participants from 4 different hospitals who participated in a Phase II or III clinical trial. Patients from different therapeutic areas were included in this study. The patients' interpersonal values were studied using the Survey of Interpersonal Values (SIV). The SIV scale is grouped into six subscales that assess specific personal values: (1) support, the need to be treated with kindness and to receive encouragement from other people; (2) conformity, the extent to which one does what is acceptable and considered socially correct; (3) recognition, the need to be highly regarded and admired, to be considered important and recognized by others; (4) independence, the extent to which individuals feel free to make their own decisions; (5) benevolence, the capacity to understand and show generosity towards the less fortunate; and (6) leadership, the value ascribed to coordinating the work of others, being selected for a leadership position, and being in a position to tell others what to do. The results obtained from the patient population were classified using the following categories: "very high" (P95-P99), "high" (P70-90), "medium" (P35-65) low" (P10-30), or "very low" (P1-5), and subsequently compared with those of the Portuguese normative population. RESULTS Compared with the normative population, regardless of the patient's underlying disease, the percentile frequency distributions were significantly higher for the independence (p < 0.001) and benevolence (p < 0.001) subscales, and significantly lower for the leadership (p < 0.001) and recognition (p < 0.001) subscales in the patient population. Patient distribution according to underlying disease differed significantly relative differences in distribution relative to the normative population for the majority of subscales. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), heart failure, myocardial infarction, lung cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis patients were those for which the greatest differences were observed across diseases, while stroke, multiple sclerosis, and HIV patients showed the least differences relative to the normative population. CONCLUSIONS This novel analysis of the interpersonal values of patients that participate in Phase II and III clinical trials revealed that the patients' interpersonal values largely differed from those of the Portuguese normative population. Better understanding the implications of these findings for clinical trial representativeness and outcomes is of crucial importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Gouveia
- BlueClinical, Ltd, Senhora da Hora, 4460-439, Matosinhos, Portugal.
- Faculty of Medicine, MedInUP-Center for Drug Discovery and Innovative Medicines, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Vitor Tedim Cruz
- Neurology Department, Hospital Pedro Hispano, ULS Matosinhos, Matosinhos, Portugal
- EPIUnit, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Antão
- Department of Mathematics, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Luís Almeida
- BlueClinical, Ltd, Senhora da Hora, 4460-439, Matosinhos, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, MedInUP-Center for Drug Discovery and Innovative Medicines, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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15
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Desai S, Kainth T, Yadav G, Kochhar H, Srinivas S, Kamil S, Du W. Role of Psychosomatic Symptoms in COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11050922. [PMID: 37243026 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11050922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccination against COVID-19 is one of the highly effective preventative strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 infection. The rapid approval of COVID-19 vaccination due to the raging pandemic, media coverage, anti-vaccination groups, and concerns about adverse effects associated with vaccination has given rise to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Current evidence suggests that psychosomatic and nocebo-related adverse effects account for a significant proportion of common adverse effects following COVID-19 vaccination. The most common adverse effects are headache, fatigue, and myalgia, which are highly prone to nocebo effects. In our review article, we discuss the role of psychosomatic and nocebo effects in COVID-19 vaccination-related hesitancy, predictors of such effects, and strategies to reduce vaccine hesitancy. General education regarding psychosomatic and nocebo effects and specialized education for at-risk populations may reduce psychosomatic and nocebo-related adverse effects following COVID-19 vaccination, ultimately reducing hesitancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saral Desai
- Department of Psychiatry, Tower Health-Phoenixville Hospital, Phoenixville, PA 19460, USA
| | - Tejasvi Kainth
- Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Garima Yadav
- Department of Psychiatry, Bronx Care Health System, Bronx, NY 10456, USA
| | - Hansini Kochhar
- Department of Psychiatry, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11219, USA
| | - Sushma Srinivas
- Department of Psychiatry, A.J. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Manglore 575004, India
| | - Saher Kamil
- Department of Pediatrics, Dell Children's Medical Center, Austin, TX 78723, USA
| | - Wei Du
- Academic Affairs, Tower Health, West Reading, PA 19611, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
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16
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Horváth Á, Szabo A, Gál V, Suhaj C, Aranyosy B, Köteles F. Are there placebo or nocebo effects in balancing performance? Cogn Res Princ Implic 2023; 8:25. [PMID: 37093367 PMCID: PMC10126169 DOI: 10.1186/s41235-023-00476-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Placebo and nocebo effects could influence the perceived, actual, or both postural stabilities. Therefore, this experiment examined whether postural stability is susceptible to placebo and nocebo effects. Driven by expectations, these cognitions could influence the motor stability of people in physical rehabilitation and those with motion instability. We randomly assigned 78 participants to a placebo, nocebo, or control group. Then, we applied a sham sports cream with positive, negative, or neutral instructions about its impact on balance. Next, we tested postural stability with a modified version of the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction in Balance, including standard, proprioceptive, visual, and vestibular tests before and after the intervention. Further, we measured expected and perceived performance with visual analog scales and assessed trait anxiety, change in state anxiety, optimism, holistic thinking, persistence, and cooperation with questionnaires. The intervention did not affect actual test performances; similarly, trait and state variables and expectations did not have an impact. Furthermore, the experimental manipulation and trait and state variables did not significantly affect perceived performance. However, the association between expectation and perceived performance was strong (ϱ = 0.627, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that postural stability is not susceptible to placebo and nocebo influences. Still, there is a dissociation between objective and subjective performance, showing that expectations impact perceived but not actual performance, which could fuel motivation in rehabilitation settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Áron Horváth
- Institute of Psychology, Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Psychology and Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Szabo
- Institute of Psychology and Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117, Budapest, Hungary.
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Vera Gál
- Institute of Psychology and Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Csilla Suhaj
- Institute of Psychology and Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Blanka Aranyosy
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Köteles
- Institute of Psychology, Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Psychology and Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
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17
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Evers AWM. Adverse effects of painful diagnostic tests: mechanisms and moderators. Pain 2023:00006396-990000000-00270. [PMID: 37129961 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea W M Evers
- Institute of Psychology, Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Medical Delta, Leiden University, Delft University of Technology, Erasmus University, the Netherlands
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18
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Kang H, Miksche MS, Ellingsen DM. Association between personality traits and placebo effects: a preregistered systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain 2023; 164:494-508. [PMID: 35947877 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Placebo effects are ubiquitous yet highly variable between individuals and therefore strongly affect clinical trial outcomes such as pain relief. It is unclear whether dispositional psychological traits influence responsiveness to placebo. This preregistered meta-analysis and systematic review synthesized the literature investigating the association between personality traits and placebo effects. Based on 21 studies with 798 participants, we performed formal meta-analyses for 10 different personality traits, including behavioral inhibition, fun seeking, goal-drive persistence, reward responsiveness, empathic concern, empathic fantasy, perspective-taking, personal distress, optimism, and anxiety. We did not find evidence of associations between any of these traits and magnitude of placebo effects, which was supported by equivalence tests. Furthermore, we did not find evidence for moderating factors such as placebo manipulation type (conditioning or nonconditioning) or condition (pain or nonpain). These findings challenge the notion that personality influences responsiveness to placebos and contradict its utility for identifying placebo "responders" and "nonresponders."
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Affiliation(s)
- Heemin Kang
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Dan-Mikael Ellingsen
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
- Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Department of Physics and Computational Radiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- School of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, Oslo, Norway
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19
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Maximizing treatment efficacy through patient stratification in neuropathic pain trials. Nat Rev Neurol 2023; 19:53-64. [PMID: 36400867 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-022-00741-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of neuropathic pain remains inadequate despite the elucidation of multiple pathophysiological mechanisms and the development of promising therapeutic compounds. The lack of success in translating knowledge into clinical practice has discouraged pharmaceutical companies from investing in pain medicine; however, new patient stratification approaches could help bridge the translation gap and develop individualized therapeutic approaches. As we highlight in this article, subgrouping of patients according to sensory profiles and other baseline characteristics could aid the prediction of treatment success. Furthermore, novel outcome measures have been developed for patients with neuropathic pain. The extent to which sensory profiles and outcome measures can be employed in routine clinical practice and clinical trials and across distinct neuropathic pain aetiologies is yet to be determined. Improvements in animal models, drawing on our knowledge of human pain, and robust public-private partnerships will be needed to pave the way to innovative and effective pain medicine in the future.
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20
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Open-Label Placebo Effects on Psychological and Physical Well-Being: A Conceptual Replication Study. CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY IN EUROPE 2022; 4:e7679. [PMID: 36762351 PMCID: PMC9881123 DOI: 10.32872/cpe.7679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Contrary to traditional placebos, open-label placebos (OLP) abstain from deception, i.e., participants are openly informed to receive an inert substance. Studies in clinical and healthy samples evidence the efficacy of OLPs. This study aims to conceptually replicate and expand findings of a recent OLP study in healthy participants while implementing a within-subject design and daily instead of retrospective assessments. Additionally, the effect of a brand name on the medicine container is tested and possible predictors of the OLP effects are explored. Method Healthy participants (N = 75) received OLP and no placebo for 5 days each (randomized sequence) and answered daily questionnaires on sleep quality, bodily symptoms, mental well-being, and psychological distress. The medicine container of half the participants had a brand name, the remaining did not. Different personality traits and situational factors were assessed. Results Mental and physical well-being did not differ between OLP and control phase, i.e., overall, no OLP effect emerged. Contrast analysis indicated that an OLP effect emerged for sleep quality and psychological distress when no brand name was present. Further, an OLP effect emerged in persons with higher expectations for bodily symptoms (r = .23, p = .046) and psychological distress (r = .24, p = .037). Conclusions Methodological differences to the original study are discussed as an explanation for the failure to induce overall OLP effects. Future studies should continue to replicate previous findings and determine the exact conditions of successful implementation of OLP effects in healthy as well as clinical samples.
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21
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Vaccine hesitancy prospectively predicts nocebo side-effects following COVID-19 vaccination. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20018. [PMID: 36470896 PMCID: PMC9722845 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21434-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The directionality between vaccine hesitancy and COVID-19 vaccine side-effects has not been hitherto examined. We hypothesized a nocebo effect, whereby vaccine hesitancy towards the second Pfizer vaccination dose predicts subsequent side-effects for a booster dose, beyond other effects. We expected these nocebo effects to be driven by (mis)information in males and prior experience in females. A representative sample of older adults (n = 756, mean age = 68.9 ± 3.43) were questioned in a typical cross-lagged design (wave 1 following a second Pfizer dose, wave 2 after their booster). As hypothesized, earlier vaccine hesitancy predicted subsequent booster side-effects for females (β = 0.10 p = 0.025, f 2 = 0.02) and males (β = 0.34, p < 0.001, f 2 = 0.16); effects were stronger in males (χ2Δ (1) = 4.34, p = 0.03). The (W1-to-W2) side-effect autoregression was stronger in females (β = .34, p < 0.001; males β = 0.18, p < 0.001), χ2Δ (1) = 26.86, p < 0.001. Results show that a quantifiable and meaningful portion of COVID-19 vaccine side-effects is predicted by vaccine hesitancy, demonstrating that side-effects comprise a psychosomatic nocebo component in vaccinated individuals. The data reveal distinct risk levels for future side-effects, suggesting the need to tailor public health messaging.
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22
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Beyond fear: Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder fail to engage in safety cues. JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2022.100380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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23
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Gouveia R, Cruz VT, Almeida L. Sociodemographic and psychological characteristics influencing patients' willingness to participate in clinical trials. BMJ Open Qual 2022; 11:bmjoq-2022-002044. [PMID: 36316063 PMCID: PMC9628668 DOI: 10.1136/bmjoq-2022-002044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Clinical trials are fundamental for the development of new medicines and patient participation is based on free consent. Our study sought to identify psychological characteristics that may influence patient willingness to participate in a clinical trial. METHODS A total of 100 participants were invited to participate with 80% positive response rate. The psychological characteristics of each patient were evaluated using the following validated psychometric scales: Self-Efficacy Scale, Curiosity, Exploration Inventory-Trait, Social Support Satisfaction, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Social Avoidance and Distress, and Fear of Negative Evaluation. RESULTS Patients who agreed to participate in the clinical trial were significantly younger than those who refused (p=0.028). There were no differences in sex, lifestyle, employment status, monthly income or education. After adjusting for age and sex, patients who agreed to participate scored significantly higher in the following: self-efficacy total score (p<0.001), effectiveness in adversity (p<0.001), social effectiveness (p<0.001) and initiation and persistence (p<0.001); social support total score (p<0.001), family satisfaction (p=0.015), friendship satisfaction (p<0.001), social activities satisfaction (p=0.002) and intimacy (p<0.001); total curiosity score (p<0.001), absorption (p<0.001) and exploration (p<0.001). Compared with patients who agreed to participate, those who refused scored significantly higher for both state (p<0.001) and trait anxiety (p<0.001), fear of negative evaluation (p<0.001) and social avoidance and distress (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Patients who were willing to participate in clinical trials exhibited different psychological characteristics to patients who refused. Specifically, they were more curious and self-efficacious, less anxious and reported a higher level of social support than patients who declined to participate. Identifying characteristics that condition the individual's decision to participate in a clinical trial has important implications for the development of patient-focused communication strategies and improved recruitment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Gouveia
- BlueClinical, Ltd, Matosinhos, Portugal,MedInUP - Center for Drug Discovery and Innovative Medicines, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Vitor Tedim Cruz
- Neurology Department, Hospital Pedro Hispano, ULS Matosinhos, Matosinhos, Portugal,EPIUnit, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Almeida
- BlueClinical, Ltd, Matosinhos, Portugal,MedInUP - Center for Drug Discovery and Innovative Medicines, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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24
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Salzmann S, Wilhelm M, Schindler S, Rief W, Euteneuer F. Optimising the efficacy of a stress-reducing psychological intervention using placebo mechanisms: A randomized controlled trial. Stress Health 2022; 38:722-735. [PMID: 35043534 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
This study examined whether i) brief videos aiming to optimise outcome expectations would augment the efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and ii) whether participants' characteristics would moderate these effects. Sixty-eight healthy subjects randomized to one of three experimental manipulations before undergoing a single PMR session either watched i) a video displaying a neutral expert, ii) a video with a warm expert, or iii) were part of an active control condition. Constrained linear mixed models indicated increased relaxation and decreased stress levels for all participants after the PMR session. The primary outcome was the change of perceived relaxation/stress from pre to post. Participants with high neuroticism and trait anxiety indicated an augmented PMR's efficacy and increased outcome expectations when watching the warm expert video compared to the control group or the less warm expert. Brief videos displaying an expert aiming to optimise outcome expectations regarding a brief stress-reducing psychological intervention may boost or decrease an intervention's efficacy. Effects may depend on the viewer's personality and the (video) expert's communication style. Trial Registration: The study protocol was approved by the local Ethics Committee of the University of Marburg, Germany. This study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03330431).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Salzmann
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Marcel Wilhelm
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Schindler
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Systems Neuroscience and Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Winfried Rief
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Frank Euteneuer
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Medical School Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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25
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Meijers MC, Stouthard J, Evers AWM, Das E, Drooger HJ, Jansen SJAJ, Francke AL, Plum N, van der Wall E, Nestoriuc Y, Dusseldorp E, van Vliet LM. Possible alleviation of symptoms and side effects through clinicians' nocebo information and empathy in an experimental video vignette study. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16112. [PMID: 36167876 PMCID: PMC9515213 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19729-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
To alleviate anti-cancer treatment burden in advanced breast cancer, patient-clinician communication strategies based on nocebo-effect mechanisms are promising. We assessed distinct/combined effects on psychological outcomes (e.g. anxiety; main outcome) and side-effect expectations of (1) nocebo information about the (non)pharmacological origin of side effects, and (2) clinician-expressed empathy through reassurance of continuing support. Furthermore, we explored whether information and empathy effects on side-effect expectations were mediated by decreased anxiety. In a two-by-two experimental video-vignette design, 160 cancer patients/survivors and healthy women watched one of four videos differing in level of nocebo information (±) and empathy (±). Regression and mediation analysis were used to determine effects of information/empathy and explore anxiety's mediating role. Anxiety was not influenced by empathy or information (Stai-state: p = 0.295; p = 0.390, VAS p = 0.399; p = 0.823). Information improved (specific) side-effect coping expectations (p < 0.01). Empathy improved side-effect intensity expectations (p < 0.01 = specific; p < 0.05 = non-specific/partial) and specific side-effect probability expectations (p < 0.01), and increased satisfaction, trust, and self-efficacy (p < 0.001). No mediating effects were found of anxiety on expectations. Mainly empathy, but also nocebo information improved psychological outcomes and-mainly specific-side-effect expectations. Exploring the power of these communication elements in clinical practice is essential to diminish the anti-cancer treatment burden in advanced breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Meijers
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Health-, Medical and Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - J Stouthard
- Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A W M Evers
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Health-, Medical and Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Medical Delta, Leiden University, TU Delft, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - E Das
- Centre for Language Studies, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - H J Drooger
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Health-, Medical and Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - S J A J Jansen
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Health-, Medical and Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - A L Francke
- NIVEL, Netherlands Institute of Health Services Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - N Plum
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - E van der Wall
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Y Nestoriuc
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Helmut-Schmidt-University/University of the Federal Armed Forces, Hamburg, Germany
- Systemic Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - E Dusseldorp
- Methodology and Statistics Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - L M van Vliet
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Health-, Medical and Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Medical Delta, Leiden University, TU Delft, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Delft, The Netherlands.
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26
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Fiorio M, Braga M, Marotta A, Villa-Sánchez B, Edwards MJ, Tinazzi M, Barbiani D. Functional neurological disorder and placebo and nocebo effects: shared mechanisms. Nat Rev Neurol 2022; 18:624-635. [PMID: 36075980 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-022-00711-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Functional neurological disorder (FND) is characterized by neurological symptoms that cannot be explained by a structural neurological cause. Among the different aetiological models that have been proposed for FND, of note is the Bayesian predictive coding model, which posits that perception relies on top-down cortical predictions (priors) to infer the source of incoming sensory information. This model can also apply to non-pathological experiences, such as placebo and nocebo effects, wherein sensory information is shaped by prior expectations and learning. To date, most studies of the relationship between placebo and nocebo effects and FND have focused on the use of placebos for diagnosis and treatment of FND. Here, we propose that this relationship might go beyond diagnosis and therapy. We develop a framework in which shared cognitive, personality and neuroanatomical factors justify the consideration of a deeper link between FND and placebo and nocebo effects. This new perspective might offer guidance for clarification of the pathogenesis of FND and for the identification of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirta Fiorio
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
| | - Miriam Braga
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Angela Marotta
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Mark J Edwards
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Sciences, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Michele Tinazzi
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Diletta Barbiani
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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27
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Guscoth LB, Cyna AM. Nocebo language in anaesthetic patient written information. Anaesthesia 2022; 77:1113-1119. [PMID: 35918796 DOI: 10.1111/anae.15824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that how anaesthesia information is presented may influence patient treatment outcomes. We conducted an observational study of anaesthetic-based patient information leaflets across NHS Trusts in England for their nocebo terms vs. therapeutic terms, and how adverse effects were presented. In this study, 'nocebo' is wording that may predispose the patient to expect adverse events such as pain or nausea. Data were extracted and analysed for word frequency, weighted proportion and thematic analysis. In total, 42 patient information leaflets from 61 NHS Trusts were analysed. 'Pain' was the second most common word across the leaflets, median (IQR [range]) 0.82 (0.50-1.0 [0.12-1.47]) per 100 words, second only to 'anaesthesia'. In comparison, 'safe' was the most common positively valanced word which featured eight times less frequently than 'pain' 0.10 (0.07-0.18 [0.0-0.84]) and 'comfort' featured 16.5 times less than 'pain' 0.02 (0.0-0.05 [0.0-0.13]). Multiple examples of phrasing that could have potential nocebo effects included, 'you will need strong painkillers' suggesting 'strong pain' and the need for 'painkillers' rather than using therapeutic terms focusing on 'comfort', 'healing' and 'recovery'. Our results suggest a dominance of phrases with negative content in the presentation of anaesthesia information provided to patients. Clinicians need to be aware of inadvertent generation of nocebo-weighted vs. comfort-weighted communication with patients. Our study findings suggest an opportunity for more emphasis to be placed on therapeutic outcomes and effective mitigation strategies of anaesthesia risks to avoid potential unintended nocebo effects of anaesthesia information leaflets or websites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A M Cyna
- Department of Women's Anaesthesia, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Discipline of Acute Care Medicine, University of Adelaide, SA, Australia
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28
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Zhang Y, Xu Y, Liu S, Liang J, Fan S, Ding M, Wang J, Xiao Z. The nocebo response in pharmacologic treatments of primary headache: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. J Clin Pharmacol 2022; 62:1257-1272. [PMID: 35532312 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.2072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Neurology Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan Hubei Province 430060 China
| | - Yingying Xu
- Department of Neurology Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan Hubei Province 430060 China
| | - Shuping Liu
- Department of Neurology Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan Hubei Province 430060 China
| | - Jingjing Liang
- Department of Neurology Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan Hubei Province 430060 China
| | - Shanghua Fan
- Department of Neurology Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan Hubei Province 430060 China
| | - Man Ding
- Department of Neurology Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan Hubei Province 430060 China
| | - Juan Wang
- Department of Neurology Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan Hubei Province 430060 China
| | - Zheman Xiao
- Department of Neurology Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan Hubei Province 430060 China
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29
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Tanaka T, Hayashida K, Morioka S. Verbal Suggestion Modulates the Sense of Ownership and Heat Pain Threshold During the "Injured" Rubber Hand Illusion. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:837496. [PMID: 35547193 PMCID: PMC9082029 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.837496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The appearance of the self-body influences the feeling that one's body belongs to oneself, that is, a sense of ownership (SoO) and pain perception. This can be identified by measuring the SoO and pain thresholds after performing the rubber hand illusion (RHI) with an injured rubber hand. The generation of SoO is thought to be caused by multisensory integration of bottom-up factors (vision, proprioceptive, and touch), and by top-down factors, such as the context effect. The appearance is one of the context effects which may become more effective when used simultaneously with other context effects (e.g., verbal suggestion). However, in the RHI, when appearance and other context effects are used simultaneously, the effect is unclear. In this study, we attempted to identify the influence of verbal suggestion on the SoO and heat pain threshold (HPT). As a preliminary step, in Experiment 1, the "normal" rubber hand and "penetrated nail" as injured rubber hand were used to clarify the context effect with appearance alone during RHI (synchronous/asynchronous), which was conducted within-subjects. In Experiment 2, we only used the "penetrated nail" rubber hand to clarify the context effect with verbal suggestion and appearance during RHI. We randomly classified participants into two suggestion groups ("fear" and "no-fear"). The RHI (synchronous/asynchronous) was conducted for each group. In each experiment, the effect of each condition was assessed by subjective measures of SoO, such as questionnaire, and objective measures of SoO, such as proprioceptive drift and electrodermal activity. Following RHI in each condition, HPT was measured. The main finding was that, in the synchronous condition, the "penetrated nail" appearance with "fear" verbal suggestion modulated questionnaire and HPT, but not electrodermal activity. We conclude that the context-included multisensory integration affected the subjective factors because it contains a higher cognitive process by verbal suggestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Tanaka
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kio University, Koryo, Japan
- Department of Rehabilitation, Fukuchiyama City Hospital, Fukuchiyama, Japan
| | - Kazuki Hayashida
- Neurorehabilitation Research Center, Kio University, Koryo, Japan
| | - Shu Morioka
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kio University, Koryo, Japan
- Neurorehabilitation Research Center, Kio University, Koryo, Japan
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30
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Yapko MD. Encouraging hindsight in advance: Age progression in therapy - and life. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPNOSIS 2022; 65:4-17. [PMID: 35263243 DOI: 10.1080/00029157.2022.2038067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Each person forms a relationship to the dimension of time, called a "temporal orientation." How that relationship is defined and prioritized, whether consciously or non-consciously, plays a huge role in the way people go about living their lives. In psychotherapy, the quality of one's expectations plays a pivotal role in virtually every phase of treatment. As a class of hypnotic interventions, age progression treatment strategies are intricately connected to expectancy since they typically involve guiding the client experientially, i.e., subjectively, into the future. While absorbed in this suggested projection, clients may have the opportunity to imagine and experience the consequences of current or new choices, integrate suggestions at deeper levels for eventual activation, rehearse new patterns of thought, feeling or behavior, and, in general, obtain a greater overview of his or her life than a narrower focus on day-to-day living typically affords. To paraphrase Milton Erickson, one can think of it as encouraging hindsight while it is still foresight.
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31
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Watanabe T, Sieg M, Lunde SJ, Taneja P, Baad-Hansen L, Pigg M, Vase L. What is the nocebo effect and does it apply to dentistry? A narrative review. J Oral Rehabil 2022; 49:586-591. [PMID: 35043415 PMCID: PMC9310768 DOI: 10.1111/joor.13306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background Evidence for the nocebo effect, a phenomenon characterised by suboptimal treatment efficacy, worsening of symptoms, or the occurrence of adverse events caused by an individual’s negative treatment expectations, is growing across a multitude of medical fields. However, little attention has been paid to patients’ negative expectations and the nocebo effect within dentistry. Aim This review summarises essential evidence of the nocebo phenomenon especially in relation to pain and drug administration. Subsequently, an overview of the current evidence of the nocebo phenomenon in the dental field is presented. Methods A PubMed search was performed using keywords related to “nocebo,” “placebo,” “expectations,” and “dentistry.” In addition to the articles selected from the search, placebo/nocebo researchers and dental researchers added important references from their respective fields. Results Although research on the nocebo effect in dentistry is limited, available current evidence suggests that the factors, which is related to the nocebo effect are likely to play a role in dental practice. Conclusion Preliminary evidence from the review warrants further investigation into the nocebo effect in dentistry. Finally, based on the general knowledge of the nocebo effect, the review indicates fruitful arrays of research into the nocebo effect in dentistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Watanabe
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, School of Business and Social Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Preventive Medicine, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Mette Sieg
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, School of Business and Social Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Sigrid Juhl Lunde
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, School of Business and Social Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Pankaj Taneja
- Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Pathology, Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Scandinavian Center of Orofacial Neurosciences, Aarhus, Denmark, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Lene Baad-Hansen
- Section of Orofacial Pain and Jaw Function, Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Scandinavian Center of Orofacial Neurosciences, Aarhus, Denmark, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Maria Pigg
- Scandinavian Center of Orofacial Neurosciences, Aarhus, Denmark, Malmö, Sweden.,Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Lene Vase
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, School of Business and Social Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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32
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Weng L, van Laarhoven AIM, Peerdeman KJ, Evers AWM. Do individual psychological characteristics predict induction and generalization of nocebo and placebo effects on pain and itch? Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:838578. [PMID: 35990075 PMCID: PMC9386339 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.838578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nocebo and placebo effects, i.e., adverse or beneficial treatment effects, respectively, putatively due to expectancies can modulate pain and itch. These effects can generalize within the pain or itch modality. Predicting the induction and generalization of these effects can be helpful in clinical practice. This study aims to investigate whether psychological characteristics related to the fear-avoidance model predict the induction and generalization of nocebo and placebo effects on pain and itch in young healthy participants. METHODS Data from two previous experiments were analyzed. In Experiment 1, we induced nocebo and placebo effects on heat pain and tested generalization to pressure pain and to cowhage-evoked itch (n = 33 in a nocebo group, n = 32 in a placebo group). In Experiment 2, we induced nocebo effects on cowhage-evoked itch and tested generalization to mechanical itch and to mechanical touch (n = 44). Potential predictors were anxiety- and stress symptoms, attention to pain/itch, and pain/itch catastrophizing. Multiple regression analyses were performed. RESULTS For nocebo effects, none of the individual psychological characteristics significantly predicted induction of nocebo effects nor their generalization. For placebo effects, only less stress symptoms, lower attention to pain, and higher pain catastrophizing weakly predicted a stronger generalization of placebo effects from heat pain to pressure pain. CONCLUSION The tested psychological characteristics may not play an important role in the induction and generalization of nocebo and placebo effects in healthy individuals. However, firm conclusions cannot be drawn with the current sample. Future studies should validate findings in larger and more diverse samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Weng
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Antoinette I M van Laarhoven
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Kaya J Peerdeman
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Andrea W M Evers
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Medical Delta, Leiden University, Technical University Delft, Rotterdam University, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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33
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Camerone EM, Battista S, Benedetti F, Carlino E, Sansone LG, Buzzatti L, Scafoglieri A, Testa M. The Temporal Modulation of Nocebo Hyperalgesia in a Model of Sustained Pain. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:807138. [PMID: 35401252 PMCID: PMC8983965 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.807138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The direction and the magnitude of verbal suggestions have been shown to be strong modulators of nocebo hyperalgesia, while little attention has been given to the role of their temporal content. Here, we investigate whether temporal suggestions modulate the timing of nocebo hyperalgesia in an experimental model of sustained pain. METHODS Fifty-one healthy participants were allocated to one of three groups. Participants received an inert cream and were instructed that the agent had either hyperalgesic properties setting in after 5 (Nocebo 5, N5) or 30 (Nocebo 30, N30) minutes from cream application, or hydrating properties (No Expectation Group, NE). Pain was induced by the Cold Pressure Test (CPT) which was repeated before cream application (baseline) and after 10 (Test10) and 35 (Test35) minutes. Changes in pain tolerance and in HR at each test point in respect to baseline were compared between the three groups. RESULTS Tolerance change at Test 10 (Δ10) was greater in N5 (MED = -36.8; IQR = 20.9) compared to NE (MED = -5.3; IQR = 22.4; p < 0.001) and N30 (MED = 0.0; IQR = 23.1; p < 0.001), showing that hyperalgesia was only present in the group that expected the effect of the cream to set in early. Tolerance change at Test 35 (Δ35) was greater in N5 (MED = -36.3; IQR = 35.3; p = 0.002) and in N30 (MED = -33.3; IQR = 34.8; p = 0.009) compared to NE, indicating delayed onset of hyperalgesia in N30, and sustained hyperalgesia in N5. No group differences were found for HR. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated that temporal expectations shift nocebo response onset in a model of sustained pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Maria Camerone
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Experimental Anatomy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Simone Battista
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Benedetti
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin Medical School, Turin, Italy.,Plateau Rosà Laboratories, Plateau Rosà, Switzerland
| | - Elisa Carlino
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin Medical School, Turin, Italy
| | - Lucia Grazia Sansone
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Buzzatti
- Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Experimental Anatomy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.,School of Allied Health, Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Aldo Scafoglieri
- Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Experimental Anatomy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marco Testa
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Experimental Anatomy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
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Seneviratne C, Noel J, Franklin PD, Colloca L. Editorial: Harnessing placebo mechanisms. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1022762. [PMID: 36172509 PMCID: PMC9512394 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1022762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chamindi Seneviratne
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,The Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jason Noel
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Patricia D Franklin
- Department of Partnerships, Professional Education and Practice, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Luana Colloca
- Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, United States.,The Placebo Beyond Opinion Center, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, United States
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35
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Meeuwis SH, van Middendorp H, Veldhuijzen DS, Evers AWM. Associations Between Interindividual Differences, Expectations and Placebo and Nocebo Effects in Itch. Front Psychol 2021; 12:781521. [PMID: 34966334 PMCID: PMC8711701 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.781521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Placebo and nocebo effects are positive and negative health outcomes that can be elicited by the psychosocial context. They can be mediated by expectations, and may emerge in somatic symptoms even when people are aware of these effects. Interindividual differences (e.g., in personality, affective states) could impact placebo and nocebo responding, but findings are inconsistent. Methods: The current work examined expectation as a mediator of the association between verbal placebo and nocebo suggestions (VSs) and histamine-induced itch across three experimental studies. Moreover, we examined whether interindividual differences (e.g., in optimism, neuroticism, behavioral activation system (BAS), body ignorance) modulated: (1) the direct association between VSs and itch (direct moderation), and (2) the indirect, expectation-mediated association between VSs and itch (moderated mediation). Positive VSs were compared to neutral instructions (Study 1; n = 92) or negative VSs (Studies 2+3; n = 203) in an open-label (i.e., explaining placebo and nocebo effects) or closed-label (concealed) context using PROCESS. First, mediation of VSs effects on itch by expectations was tested. Next, moderation by individual traits was explored using conditional process analyses. Results: The effects of VSs on itch were significantly mediated by expectation in Study 1 and in the open-label (but not closed-label) contexts of Studies 2 and 3. Ignorance of bodily signals marginally moderated the direct effects of VSs on itch when closed-label suggestions were given: at low levels of body ignorance, effects of positive and negative VSs were stronger. Moreover, moderated mediation was observed in the open-label groups of Studies 2 and 3: The expectation-mediated effects of VSs on itch were stronger when BAS drive was lower. Conclusion: Overall, the effects of VSs on itch were mediated by expectations in the open-label, but not the closed-label context. Moreover, the current work suggests that placebo and nocebo effects may be moderated by ignorance of bodily signals and the BAS. There was limited evidence that other interindividual differences modulated placebo and nocebo responding in itch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie H Meeuwis
- Pain Research Group, Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.,Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Henriët van Middendorp
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Dieuwke S Veldhuijzen
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Andrea W M Evers
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Medical Delta Healthy Society, Leiden University, Technical University Delft, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Branders S, Pereira A, Bernard G, Ernst M, Dananberg J, Albert A. Leveraging historical data to optimize the number of covariates and their explained variance in the analysis of randomized clinical trials. Stat Methods Med Res 2021; 31:240-252. [PMID: 34903096 DOI: 10.1177/09622802211065246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The amount of data collected from patients involved in clinical trials is continuously growing. All baseline patient characteristics are potential covariates that could be used to improve clinical trial analysis and power. However, the limited number of patients in phases I and II studies restricts the possible number of covariates included in the analyses. In this paper, we investigate the cost/benefit ratio of including covariates in the analysis of clinical trials with a continuous outcome. Within this context, we address the long-running question "What is the optimum number of covariates to include in a clinical trial?" To further improve the benefit/cost ratio of covariates, historical data can be leveraged to pre-specify the covariate weights, which can be viewed as the definition of a new composite covariate. Here we analyze the use of a composite covariate to improve the estimated treatment effect in small clinical trials. A composite covariate limits the loss of degrees of freedom and the risk of overfitting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Branders
- Tools4Patients s.a, 11 rue Granbonpré, Bte 9, 1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium
| | - Alvaro Pereira
- Tools4Patients s.a, 11 rue Granbonpré, Bte 9, 1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium
| | - Guillaume Bernard
- Tools4Patients s.a, 11 rue Granbonpré, Bte 9, 1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium
| | - Marie Ernst
- Biostatistics, Medico-economic information Department, University Hospital of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Jamie Dananberg
- UNITY Biotechnology Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Adelin Albert
- Tools4Patients s.a, 11 rue Granbonpré, Bte 9, 1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium.,Department of Public Health, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
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Taylor S, Asmundson GJG. Immunization stress-related responses: Implications for vaccination hesitancy and vaccination processes during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Anxiety Disord 2021; 84:102489. [PMID: 34627104 PMCID: PMC8483981 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6E 2A1, Canada.
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Barth J, Muff S, Kern A, Zieger A, Keiser S, Zoller M, Rosemann T, Brinkhaus B, Held L, Witt CM. Effect of Briefing on Acupuncture Treatment Outcome Expectations, Pain, and Adverse Side Effects Among Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2121418. [PMID: 34505889 PMCID: PMC8433606 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.21418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE In observational studies, patients' treatment outcome expectations have been associated with better outcomes (ie, a placebo response), whereas concerns about adverse side effects have been associated with an in increase in the negative effects of treatments (ie, a nocebo response). Some randomized trials have suggested that communication from clinicians could affect the treatment outcomes by changing patients' expectations. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether treatment outcome expectations and reported adverse side effects could be affected by different briefing contents before a minimal acupuncture treatment in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This randomized single-blinded clinical trial was conducted among patients with CLBP at 1 outpatient clinic in Switzerland who had a pain intensity of at least 4 on a numeric rating scale from 0 to 10. Different recruitment channels were used to enroll patients. Data were collected from May 2016 to December 2017 and were analyzed from June to November 2018. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive either a regular expectation briefing or a high expectation briefing (effectiveness) and either a regular adverse side effect briefing or an intense adverse side effect briefing (adverse side effect) in a 2 × 2 factorial design. The intervention (briefing sessions and written materials) was standardized and delivered before the acupuncture treatment, with additional booster informative emails provided during the 4-week, 8-session acupuncture course. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary end point was the patients' expectations regarding the effectiveness of the acupuncture treatment (Expectation for Treatment Scale [ETS]) after the briefing and the subsequent pain intensity (numeric rating scale). The primary end point for the adverse side effect briefing was the adverse side effect score at the end of the acupuncture treatment, derived from session-by-session assessments of adverse side effects. RESULTS A total of 152 patients with CLBP (mean [SD] age, 39.54 [12.52] years; 100 [65.8%] women) were included. The estimated group difference (regular vs high) for the ETS was -0.16 (95% CI -0.81 to 0.50, P = .64), indicating no evidence for a difference between intervention groups. There was also no evidence for a difference in pain intensity at the end of the acupuncture treatment between the groups with different expectation briefings. The adverse side effects score in the group with the intense adverse side effect briefing were estimated to be 1.31 times higher (95% CI, 0.94 to 1.82; P = .11) than after a regular adverse side effect briefing, but the finding was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this study, suggestions regarding treatment benefits (placebo) and adverse side effects (nocebo) did not affect treatment expectations or adverse side effects. Information regarding adverse side effects might require more research to understand nocebo responses. TRIAL REGISTRATION German Clinical Trials Register Identifier: DRKS00010191.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Barth
- Institute for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Muff
- Department of Biostatistics at the Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Alexandra Kern
- Institute for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anja Zieger
- Institute for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Keiser
- Institute for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Zoller
- Institute for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Rosemann
- Institute of Primary Care, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benno Brinkhaus
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Leonhard Held
- Department of Biostatistics at the Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Claudia M. Witt
- Institute for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Berlin, Germany
- Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore
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Quantitative language features identify placebo responders in chronic back pain. Pain 2021; 162:1692-1704. [PMID: 33433145 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Although placebo effect sizes in clinical trials of chronic pain treatments have been increasing, it remains unknown if characteristics of individuals' thoughts or previous experiences can reliably infer placebo pill responses. Research using language to investigate emotional and cognitive processes has recently gained momentum. Here, we quantified placebo responses in chronic back pain using more than 300 semantic and psycholinguistic features derived from patients' language. This speech content was collected in an exit interview as part of a clinical trial investigating placebo analgesia (62 patients, 42 treated; 20 not treated). Using a nested leave-one-out cross-validated approach, we distinguished placebo responders from nonresponders with 79% accuracy using language features alone; a subset of these features-semantic distances to identity and stigma and the number of achievement-related words-also explained 46% of the variance in placebo analgesia. Importantly, these language features were not due to generic treatment effects and were associated with patients' specific baseline psychological traits previously shown to be predictive of placebo including awareness and personality characteristics, explaining an additional 31% of the variance in placebo analgesia beyond that of personality. Initial interpretation of the features suggests that placebo responders differed in how they talked about negative emotions and the extent that they expressed awareness to various aspects of their experiences; differences were also seen in time spent talking about leisure activities. These results indicate that patients' language is sufficient to identify a placebo response and implie that specific speech features may be predictive of responders' previous treatment.
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Pagnini F, Volpato E, Dell'Orto S, Cavalera C, Spina M, Banfi P. Illness Expectations Assessment in People with Asthma: A Tool for Explicit and Implicit Beliefs. J Asthma Allergy 2021; 14:449-455. [PMID: 33976554 PMCID: PMC8104979 DOI: 10.2147/jaa.s307763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Illness expectations are cognitive schemas, both explicit and implicit, describing how symptoms are expected to be in the future. They can be particularly relevant to disease in a mind/body framework. Asthma is a condition in which the psychological aspects can highly influence the body, but no study has directly explored these specific expectations, and no dedicated assessment tools are available. Methods We developed a questionnaire to assess the illness expectations, together with an ad hoc version of the Implicit Association Test (IAT). We tested its factorial structure, and the internal and test–retest validity, recruiting a sample of 183 asthmatic people. We also explored the convergent validity and the correlations with objective and subjective clinical assessments. Results Data suggested a three-factorial structure of the questionnaire into expectations about future symptoms, change in current health status, and rigidity of these expectations. The questionnaire showed good psychometric properties and strong associations with the other considered outcomes, including implicit expectations. The implicit evaluation, however, lacked test–retest reliability. Conclusion The questionnaire is a valid tool to assess illness expectations in people with asthma. The two expectation scales are highly related, and the implicit expectations are moderately associated with the explicit ones. The lack of stability related to IAT results may reflect a lack of stability of the implicit expectations. The implications for the mind/body framework still need to be fully explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Pagnini
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy.,Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Eleonora Volpato
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy.,Pneumological Rehabilitation, IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Dell'Orto
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| | - Cesare Cavalera
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Banfi
- Pneumological Rehabilitation, IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, Italy
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Rady A, Elfatatry A, Molokhia T, Radwan A. Psychiatric comorbidities in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 118:107918. [PMID: 33735815 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.107918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are major challenges for diagnosis and management. The heterogeneity of psychogenic seizures is attributed to diverse psychopathological comorbidities, and the causal relationship between PNES and underlying psychopathologies is still enigmatic. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to study psychiatric comorbidities and personality constructs in patients with PNES and compare them to a control group of patients with epilepsy. METHOD We randomly recruited 33 patients with PNES and 33 patients with epilepsy. All patients completed the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) to screen for psychiatric comorbidities, the Structured Clinical Interview for psychiatric disorders in Axis II (SCID II) to screen for personality disorders, and Goldberg's International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) Big Five personality questionnaire to study the psychological constructs of extroversion-introversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability-neuroticism, and intellect. RESULT Mood and anxiety disorders were highly prevalent in patients with PNES (72.7% and 54.5%, respectively); however, the prevalence of only cluster B personality disorder was higher in patients with PNES (69.7%) compared to 33.3% among patients with epilepsy (p < 0.05). Screening for personality disorders using SCID II showed that the prevalence of borderline and depressive personality disorders was significantly higher in patients with PNES (p < 0.001). Patients with psychogenic seizures were more likely to be receiving polydrug therapy (75.8%) compared to patients with epileptic seizures (45.5%); this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Psychiatric comorbidities are highly prevalent among patients with PNES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Rady
- Department of Psychiatry, Alexandria University School of Medicine, Egypt.
| | - Amr Elfatatry
- Department of Neurology, Alexandria University School of Medicine, Egypt
| | - Tarek Molokhia
- Department of Psychiatry, Alexandria University School of Medicine, Egypt
| | - Aya Radwan
- Department of Psychiatry, Alexandria University School of Medicine, Egypt
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Effects of Open-Label Placebos on State Anxiety and Glucocorticoid Stress Responses. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11040508. [PMID: 33923694 PMCID: PMC8072693 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11040508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress belongs to the most frequent negative feelings people are confronted with in daily life. Strategies against acute stress include, e.g., relaxation techniques or medications, but it is also known that placebos can successfully reduce negative emotional stress. While it is widely held that placebos require deception to provoke a response, recent studies demonstrate intriguing evidence that placebos may work even without concealment (e.g., against anxiety or pain). Most of these studies are based on self-report questionnaires and do not include physiological measures. Here we report results of a study examining whether placebos without deception reduce acute stress. A total of 53 healthy individuals received either placebos without deception or no pills before participating in a laboratory stress test (Maastricht Acute Stress Test, MAST). We recorded self-report stress measures and cortisol responses before and after the MAST. Results showed no significant differences between the placebo and the control group, but when comparing participants with high relative to low beliefs in the power of placebos we found significant lower anxiety and cortisol responses for the placebo believers. These results show that non-deceptive placebos may successfully reduce acute anxiety and stress, but only in participants who had a strong belief in placebos. We discuss the results by suggesting that open-label placebos might be a possible treatment to reduce stress at least for some individuals.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Statins are highly effective therapies for reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular events. However, many patients taking statins experience statin-associated muscle symptoms. In the current manuscript, we review algorithms to define statin intolerance and approaches to optimize cardiovascular risk reduction and reduce the nocebo effect among individuals reporting statin-associated muscle pain. RECENT FINDINGS Patients with statin intolerance have a higher cardiovascular event risk. These data underscore the need to apply clinical strategies that improve treatment utilization and adherence of patients experiencing statin-related side effects. Recent data have shown that the nocebo effect is frequent with statin therapy. This may be explained by the high frequency of muscle symptoms in the general population and media misinformation. When statins even at a low dosage are not tolerated other therapies can be used such as fibrate, ezetimibe nutraceuticals and antiPCSK9 antibodies. Recent data have identified other alternative therapeutic strategies such as bempedoic acid. SUMMARY There are multiple strategies for the management of statin-intolerance, both pharmacological and nonpharmacological. Patient involvement in the justification of statin treatment indication and therapeutic choice is the first step to overcome misbelief and reduce nocebo effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Gallo
- Department of Endocrinology and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, La Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
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Denkinger S, Spano L, Bingel U, Witt CM, Bavelier D, Green CS. Assessing the Impact of Expectations in Cognitive Training and Beyond. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s41465-021-00206-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Amanzio M, Cipriani GE, Bartoli M. How do nocebo effects in placebo groups of randomized controlled trials provide a possible explicative framework for the COVID-19 pandemic? Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2021; 14:439-444. [PMID: 33682603 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2021.1900728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are useful to study the role of individual and contextual factors in which therapies vs placebos are administered and to provide an important perspective for understanding the phenomenon of nocebo-related risks.Areas covered: The results of nocebo effects in RCT placebo groups, measured in terms of adverse events (AEs) and dropouts, will be presented as an explicative framework for the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are the only RCTs routinely conducted during the pandemic. Information about efficacy and safety of different vaccines represents a fertile ground for nocebo phenomena. Individual and contextual factors will be emphasized in order to understand the presence of a refusal of immunization associated with a specific vaccine considered less effective and safe. Critical aspects and some guidelines will be presented in order to counteract the nocebo effects and to improve adherence to drug treatments and the vaccination campaign.Expert opinion: The nocebo effect could explain the presence of strong resistance in European countries to immunization with a vaccine perceived as less effective, compared to others. Increased awareness of the nocebo effect would be relevant as it could lead to a greater participation in the vaccination campaign and in protecting individuals against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Schlintl C, Schienle A. Information About the Optimism of a Placebo/Nocebo Provider and Placebo/Nocebo Side Effects. Front Psychol 2021; 11:608595. [PMID: 33519617 PMCID: PMC7841374 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.608595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Research has demonstrated that personality characteristics, such as optimism are associated with placebo/nocebo responding. The present study investigated whether written information about the optimism of a placebo/nocebo provider can influence the occurrence of reported placebo/nocebo side effects. Method We analyzed data from 201 females (mean age = 26 years) who participated in a “clinical study on a new massage oil with stone clover extract.” The oil (sunflower oil) was introduced as either eliciting a negative side effect (unpleasant itching; “nocebo oil”) or a positive side effect (pleasant tingling; “placebo oil”). The administration of the oil was combined with written information about the maker of the product. The oil maker was either portrayed as a very optimistic person or no personal information was provided (only the company name). The participants had no personal contact with the experimenter and received all materials and instructions per post. Results The participants reported more frequent and intense itching when they received a nocebo suggestion compared to a placebo suggestion. Positive tingling sensations were reported more frequently than itching but did not differ between the placebo/nocebo conditions. Information about the optimism of the oil maker was associated with a lower frequency of reported side effects (adverse and beneficial). Conclusion This study demonstrated that it is sufficient to provide participants with written information about an inert substance to elicit the suggested side effect. Information about the provider’s optimistic personality did not specifically influence reported side effects. Future studies should focus on how to adapt written information about a drug/product to minimize adverse side effects and to maximize positive side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Schlintl
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Anne Schienle
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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Fiedorowicz JG. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 2020 year in review. J Psychosom Res 2021; 140:110332. [PMID: 33340759 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jess G Fiedorowicz
- University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada
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Mitsikostas DD, Blease C, Carlino E, Colloca L, Geers AL, Howick J, Evers AWM, Flaten MA, Kelley JM, Kirsch I, Klinger R, MaassenVanDenBrink A, Moerman DE, Sfikakis PP, Vase L, Wager TD, Benedetti F. European Headache Federation recommendations for placebo and nocebo terminology. J Headache Pain 2020; 21:117. [PMID: 32977761 PMCID: PMC7519524 DOI: 10.1186/s10194-020-01178-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and aim Despite recent publications, practitioners remain unfamiliar with the current terminology related to the placebo and nocebo phenomena observed in clinical trials and practice, nor with the factors that modulate them. To cover the gap, the European Headache Federation appointed a panel of experts to clarify the terms associated with the use of placebo in clinical trials. Methods The working group identified relevant questions and agreed upon recommendations. Because no data were required to answer the questions, the GRADE approach was not applicable, and thus only expert opinion was provided according to an amended Delphi method. The initial 12 topics for discussion were revised in the opinion of the majority of the panelists, and after a total of 6 rounds of negotiations, the final agreement is presented. Results/recommendations Two primary and mechanism-based recommendations are provided for the results of clinical trials: [1] to distinguish the placebo or nocebo response from the placebo or nocebo effect; and [2] for any favorable outcome observed after placebo administration, the term “placebo response” should be used, and for any unfavorable outcome recorded after placebo administration, the term “nocebo response” should be used (12 out of 17 panelists agreed, 70.6% agreement). The placebo or nocebo responses are attributed to a set of factors including those that are related to the medical condition (e.g. natural history, random comorbidities, etc.), along with idiosyncratic ones, in which the placebo or nocebo effects are attributed to idiosyncratic, or nonspecific mechanisms, exclusively (e.g. expectation, conditioning, observational learning etc.). To help investigators and practitioners, the panel summarized a list of environmental factors and idiosyncratic dynamics modulating placebo and nocebo effects. Some of them are modifiable, and investigators or physicians need to know about them in order to modify these factors appropriately to improve treatment. One secondary recommendation addresses the use of the terms “placebo” and “nocebo” (“placebos” and “nocebos” in plural), which refer to the triggers of the placebo/nocebo effects or responses, respectively, and which are inert agents or interventions that should not be confused with the placebo/nocebo responses or effects themselves (all panelists agreed, 100% agreement). Conclusion The working group recommends distinguishing the term response from effect to describe health changes from before to after placebo application and to distinguish the terms placebo(s) or nocebo(s) from the health consequences that they cause (placebo/nocebo responses or effects).
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimos D Mitsikostas
- 1st Neurology Department, Aeginiton Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 72-72 Vas. Sofia's Avenue, 11528, Athens, Greece.
| | - Charlotte Blease
- General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elisa Carlino
- Physiology and Neuroscience, University of Turin Medical School, Turin, Italy
| | - Luana Colloca
- Departments of Pain Translational Symptoms Science and Anaesthesiology, School of Nursing and Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew L Geers
- Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Jeremy Howick
- Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrea W M Evers
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Magne A Flaten
- Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - John M Kelley
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Program in Placebo Studies, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Irving Kirsch
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Program in Placebo Studies, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Regine Klinger
- Department of Anesthesiology University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Center for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Petros P Sfikakis
- 1st Department of Propedeutic and Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Lene Vase
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Tor D Wager
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Fabrizio Benedetti
- Physiology and Neuroscience, University of Turin Medical School, Turin, Italy
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D'Amico F, Solitano V, Peyrin-Biroulet L, Danese S. Nocebo effect and biosimilars in inflammatory bowel diseases: what's new and what's next? Expert Opin Biol Ther 2020; 21:47-55. [PMID: 32857634 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2020.1817374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The use of biosimilars for the treatment of patients with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) showed to be a valid strategy to reduce the economic burden of biologics on health-care costs and to increase patient access to treatment. However, the nocebo effect constitutes an important limitation to the wide use of biosimilars. AREAS COVERED We conducted a literature overview to summarize information on nocebo effect in IBD population and to provide physicians with practical key strategies to prevent the nocebo effect in daily clinical practice and to improve patients' outcomes. EXPERT OPINION Despite the proven efficacy and safety of biosimilars, further clinical studies are needed to define the effects of reverse and multiple switches in the management of patients with IBD. The development of new subcutaneous formulations, better accepted by patients, could contribute to reduce patients' negative expectations, and limit the nocebo effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinando D'Amico
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele , Milan, Italy.,Department of Gastroenterology and Inserm NGERE U1256, University Hospital of Nancy, University of Lorraine, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy , France
| | - Virginia Solitano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele , Milan, Italy
| | - Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet
- Department of Gastroenterology and Inserm NGERE U1256, University Hospital of Nancy, University of Lorraine, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy , France
| | - Silvio Danese
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele , Milan, Italy.,Department of Gastroenterology, IBD Center, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano , Milan, Italy
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Fragoulis GE, Evangelatos G, Arida A, Bournia VK, Fragiadaki K, Karamanakos A, Kravvariti E, Laskari K, Panopoulos S, Pappa M, Mitsikostas DD, Tektonidou MG, Sfikakis PP. Nocebo-Prone Behaviour in Patients with Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2020; 31:288-294. [PMID: 33196007 PMCID: PMC7656135 DOI: 10.31138/mjr.31.3.288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with emotional distress and significant disruptions in health-care services. These are key players in the development of nocebo phenomena. We aimed to investigate nocebo-prone behaviour in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) amid the COVID-19 pandemic-associated lockdown. METHODS Consecutive patients were telephone-interviewed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece. Clinical and socioeconomic characteristics (eg, level of education) were recorded. For nocebo behaviour, a four-item validated questionnaire (Q-No, cut-off score>15), was used. Results were compared with pre-COVID-19 Q-No scores collected from patients followed-up in our department. RESULTS Nocebo behaviour was detected in 51/500 (10.2%) individuals. In patients with nocebo behaviour, use of anti-hypertensives was less common (17.6% vs 31.8%, p=0.04), but a higher level of education was more common (58.8% vs 35.9%, p=0.002), compared with patients with Q-No score ≤15; the latter retained statistical significance in multivariate regression analysis (p=0.009, OR [95%CI]: 2.29, [1.23-4.25]). Total Q-No scores were higher in the COVID-19-period compared to the pre-COVID-19 era [median (range); 12 (4-20) vs 11 (4-20), p=0.02]. Among 78 patients with available Q-No questionnaires in the pre-COVID-19 era, 11 (14.1%) displayed nocebo behaviour, which increased to 16 (20.5%) amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Interim development of nocebo behaviour was also associated with higher educational level (p=0.049, OR: 3.65, 95%CI: 1.005-13.268). CONCLUSION A considerable proportion of ARD patients manifested nocebo-prone behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was more common among those with high educational level.
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Affiliation(s)
- George E. Fragoulis
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Gerasimos Evangelatos
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Aikaterini Arida
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki-Kalliopi Bournia
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Kalliopi Fragiadaki
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasios Karamanakos
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Evrydiki Kravvariti
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina Laskari
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Stylianos Panopoulos
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Pappa
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimos D. Mitsikostas
- First Neurology Department, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria G. Tektonidou
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Petros P. Sfikakis
- First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Joint Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
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