The Other Side of the Coin: Nocebo Effects and Psychotherapy

Psychological modalities for the treatment of localized provoked vulvodynia: a scoping review of literature from 2010 to 2023

INTRODUCTION

Localized provoked vulvodynia is a common sexual health condition for which there is a lack of consensus on effective management, even though it can have a significant negative impact on psychological wellbeing, sexual functioning, and quality of life for women and their partners.

AIM

To map the research landscape related to the effectiveness/efficacy of psychological treatments for localized provoked vulvodynia, identify gaps, and make recommendations for future research.

METHODS

We used Arksey and O'Malley's approach to conducting a scoping review to identify, organize, and summarize research published between 2010 and 2023 that investigated the efficacy or effectiveness of interventions in the management of localized provoked vulvodynia. Inclusion and exclusion criteria and the search strategy were developed by subject experts in collaboration with a health sciences librarian. A PubMed search used controlled vocabulary and keyword terms relating to vulvodynia, which were then translated into other databases. Studies not published in English or French were excluded. We did not consider other subsets of vulvodynia.Articles were uploaded to Covidence, duplicates removed, and titles and abstracts screened. The remaining articles were subject to a 2-person, independent full-text review followed by a hand search of eligible articles. All intervention studies were included regardless of the study design. Study details were reported narratively and analyzed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Of the 88 included articles published between January 2010 and March 2023, 15 reported on the efficacy/effectiveness of psychological treatments for localized provoked vulvodynia, including group educational seminars, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and somatocognitive therapy.

RESULTS

Cognitive behavioral therapy was the most common form of psychological treatment studied (n = 7) with interventions for both individuals and couples. Education about the condition and the therapeutic process was a component of many interventions. Psychological therapies may be of some benefit, but only 1 RCT evaluating the efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy appeared adequately powered to demonstrate improvement in dyspareunia. Studies sampled homogenous patient populations, primarily consisting of White, urban-dwelling, educated, partnered, heterosexual cis-women.

CONCLUSION

Evidence of efficacy/effectiveness, drawn mainly from small studies, is promising and highlights opportunities for more robust studies with heterogeneous populations, more research on the role of education in treatment success, and greater attention to assessing patient-driven outcomes in partnered and unpartnered women.

The Importance of the Morel Emotional Numbing Test Instructions: A Diagnosis Threat Induction Study

OBJECTIVE

Marketed as a validity test that detects feigning of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the Morel Emotional Numbing Test for PTSD (MENT) instructs examinees that PTSD may negatively affect performance on the measure. This study explored the potential that MENT performance depends on inclusion of "PTSD" in its instructions and the nature of the MENT as a performance validity versus a symptom validity test (PVT/SVT).

METHOD

358 participants completed the MENT as a part of a clinical neuropsychological evaluation. Participants were either administered the MENT with the standard instructions (SIs) that referenced "PTSD" or revised instructions (RIs) that did not. Others were administered instructions that referenced "ADHD" rather than PTSD (AI). Comparisons were conducted on those who presented with concerns for potential traumatic-stress related symptoms (SI vs. RI-1) or attention deficit (AI vs. RI-2).

RESULTS

Participants in either the SI or AI condition produced more MENT errors than those in their respective RI conditions. The relationship between MENT errors and other S/PVTs was significantly stronger in the SI: RI-1 comparison, such that errors correlated with self-reported trauma-related symptoms in the SI but not RI-1 condition. MENT failure also predicted PVT failure at nearly four times the rate of SVT failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that the MENT relies on overt reference to PTSD in its instructions, which is linked to the growing body of literature on "diagnosis threat" effects. The MENT may be considered a measure of suggestibility. Ethical considerations are discussed, as are the construct(s) measured by PVTs versus SVTs.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy or supportive counseling prior to exposure therapy in patients with panic disorder: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial (IMPROVE)

BACKGROUND

Exposure-based therapy is the treatment of choice for anxiety disorders, but many patients do not benefit sufficiently from it. Distressing images of threat related to the future or past may maintain the anxiety symptomatology or impede exposure therapy. An intervention that targets threat-related imagery is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. The main goal of this multicenter randomized controlled trial is to investigate whether EMDR therapy plus exposure therapy, relative to supportive counseling plus exposure therapy, improves treatment efficacy, tolerability, and adherence in patients with panic disorder. In addition, we will examine potential predictors of optimal treatment allocation, mechanisms of change as well as the long term effects of treatment. Finally, we will assess cost-effectiveness.

METHODS

A multicenter randomized controlled trial mixed design will be conducted. Participants will be 50 patients, aged ≥ 18, diagnosed with a panic disorder. They will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions: EMDR therapy (i.e., flashforward strategy) or supportive counseling (each consisting of four weekly sessions of 90 min each) prior to exposure therapy (consisting of eight weekly sessions of 90 min each). Assessments will be made pre-treatment (T1), between-treatments (T2), post-treatment (T3), one month post-treatment (FU1) and six months post-treatment (FU2) by an assessor blind to treatment condition. The primary outcome measure is severity of panic-related symptoms. Secondary outcome measures are: tolerability of exposure therapy (initial avoidance, willingness to start exposure therapy, considered drop-out; no-show and drop-out), related symptomatology (generalized anxiety, depression), and functional impairment.

DISCUSSION

The primary goals of this research are to compare the efficacy, tolerability, and adherence of EMDR therapy plus exposure therapy and supportive counseling plus exposure therapy and to identify predictors, moderators, and mediators for treatment success. This multi-center research aims to make a significant contribution to our understanding as to how treatment for patients with anxiety disorders can be optimized, and elucidate who can benefit most from this novel approach.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN-ISRCTN29668369: Improving anxiety treatment by modifying emotional memories before real-life exposure. Registered 27 June 2022-retrospectively registered. ISRCTN-ISRCTN29668369.

The Effects of Expectations and Worries on the Experience of COVID-19 Symptoms

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to have profound effects on both mental and physical health. Distress and widespread uncertainty about global events and personal risk are associated with increased worry and negative expectations that impact physical health. Thus, the current pandemic poses a possibility for the experience of nocebo effects.

Objective

To evaluate the likelihood of nocebo-induced COVID-19 symptoms in a US sample.

Methods

An online study on the mental health impact of COVID-19 asked participants to complete a set of biweekly surveys over a 6-month period between April 2020 and May 2021. We focus on responses from 3,027 individuals who reported never testing positive for COVID-19. We assessed the association between two types of worry and self-reported symptoms of COVID-19. We used multi-level models to examine variations across and within participants over time. We further investigated the effects of pre-existing health conditions and mental health status.

Results

There was a positive association between symptoms and both general (b= 2.56, p<0.01) and personal worry (b=2.77, p<0.01). However, worry reported at one timepoint was not specifically associated with symptoms reported two weeks later (p = 0.63, p=0.56). We also found that a greater number of prior clinical comorbidities and greater mental health burden were significant predictors of symptom reporting.

Conclusions

These results suggest that increased worries during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with greater symptoms. Further studies investigating worry and symptoms in populations with confirmed negative COVID-19 tests or isolated populations will be needed to isolate the occurrence of true nocebo effects during the pandemic.

Chronic pain concepts of pediatricians: a qualitative survey

Introduction

Chronic pain is a prevalent, yet underrecognized, condition in children and adolescents. A biopsychosocial framework has been widely adopted over the past decades and resulted in a new pain classification in the International Classification of Diseases, 11th revision (ICD-11). Nevertheless, little is known about pediatricians' pain concepts.

Objectives

We explored pain concepts of Swiss pediatricians by means of a qualitative analysis.

Method

A cross-sectional online survey was sent to clinically active Swiss pediatricians registered with the Swiss Society for Pediatrics. A case vignette of a girl with chronic musculoskeletal pain was presented and pediatricians were asked (1) what they think caused the pain, and (2) how they would explain the pain to the patient and their family. Structuring content analysis was applied to describe major themes within the answers.

Results

The following main categories emerged: psychological factors, biological factors, unclear etiology, social context, disorder specific, and multifactorial. Most pediatricians reported the belief that psychological factors explained the pain. However, when explaining the pain to the patient, biological factors were reported most often.

Conclusion

There is a discrepancy between pediatricians' conviction that chronic pain is mostly explained by psychological factors and their exploratory model towards patients that focuses on biological factors. Promoting the biopsychosocial framework of chronic pain is key to ensure timely and effective treatment. The new pain classification in the ICD-11 has the potential to increase the use of the biopsychosocial model.

Avoiding nocebo and other undesirable effects in chiropractic, osteopathy and physiotherapy: An invitation to reflect

INTRODUCTION

While the placebo effect is increasingly recognised as a contributor to treatment effects in clinical practice, the nocebo and other undesirable effects are less well explored and likely underestimated. In the chiropractic, osteopathy and physiotherapy professions, some aspects of historical models of care may arguably increase the risk of nocebo effects.

PURPOSE

In this masterclass article, clinicians, researchers, and educators are invited to reflect on such possibilities, in an attempt to stimulate research and raise awareness for the mitigation of such undesirable effects.

IMPLICATIONS

This masterclass briefly introduces the nocebo effect and its underlying mechanisms. It then traces the historical development of chiropractic, osteopathy, and physiotherapy, arguing that there was and continues to be an excessive focus on the patient's body. Next, aspects of clinical practice, including communication, the therapeutic relationship, clinical rituals, and the wider social and economic context of practice are examined for their potential to generate nocebo and other undesirable effects. To aid reflection, a model to reflect on clinical practice and individual professions through the 'prism' of nocebo and other undesirable effects is introduced and illustrated. Finally, steps are proposed for how researchers, educators, and practitioners can maximise positive and minimise negative clinical context.

Sharing online clinical notes with patients: implications for nocebo effects and health equity

Patients in around 20 countries worldwide are now offered online access to at least some of their medical records. Access includes test results, medication lists, referral information, and/or the very words written by clinicians (so-called 'open notes'). In this paper, I discuss the possibility of one unintended negative consequence of patient access to their clinical notes-the potential to increase 'nocebo effects'. A growing body of research shows that nocebo effects arise by engaging perceptual and cognitive processes that influence negative expectancies, and as a consequence, adverse health effects. Studies show that increased awareness about the side effects of medications, the framing of information and the socioemotional context of care can increase the risk of nocebo effects. Connecting research into the nocebo effect with open notes provides preliminary support for the hypothesis that patient access to clinical notes might be a forum for facilitating unwanted nocebo effects. Furthermore, current findings indicate that we might expect to see systematic differences in how nocebo effects are experienced among different patient populations. The ethical implications of the tension between transparency and the potential for harm are discussed, with an emphasis on what open notes might mean for justice and equity in clinical care for a range of already marginalised patient populations. I argue that to resolve these challenges does not thereby justify 'closed notes', and conclude with suggestions for how health systems and clinicians might adapt to this innovation to reduce the risk of potential nocebo effects arising via this novel route.

Nonpharmacological Interventions for Pediatric Migraine: A Network Meta-analysis

CONTEXT

Migraine is a common neurologic disorder in children and adolescents. However, a comparison of multiple nonpharmacological treatments is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether nonpharmacological treatments are more effective than waiting list and whether there are differences between interventions regarding efficacy.

DATA SOURCES

Systematic review and network meta-analysis of studies in Medline, Cochrane, Embase, and PsycINFO published through August 5, 2019.

STUDY SELECTION

Randomized controlled trials of nonpharmacological treatments in children and adolescents diagnosed with episodic migraine.

DATA EXTRACTION

Effect sizes, calculated as standardized mean differences (SMDs) for the primary outcome efficacy, were assessed in a random-effects model.

RESULTS

Twelve studies (N = 576) were included. When interventions were classified into groups on the basis of similarity of treatment components, self-administered treatments, biofeedback, relaxation, psychological treatments, and psychological placebos were significantly more effective than waiting list with effect sizes ranging between SMD = 1.14 (95% confidence interval, 0.09 to 2.19) for long-term psychological placebos to SMD = 1.44 (95% confidence interval, 0.26 to 2.62) for short-term self-administered treatments. However, when all interventions were examined individually (ie, 1 node per intervention), none were significantly more effective compared with waiting list, mainly because of lack of statistical power.

LIMITATIONS

Because of our focus on pediatric migraine, only a small number of studies could be included.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings reveal that components of nonpharmacological interventions are effective in treating pediatric migraine. Some effects have to be interpreted carefully because they are based on small studies. Future researchers should identify factors associated with individual responses in large, multicentered studies.

How do nocebo effects in placebo groups of randomized controlled trials provide a possible explicative framework for the COVID-19 pandemic?

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.

Fear of Covid-19: Insights from Evolutionary Behavioral Science

Fear of infectious disease is substantially different from that evoked by other medical conditions. Such a difference depends on psychological and behavioral adaptations shaped by natural selection throughout the evolutionary history of Homo sapiens. Selective pressures have favored the evolution of a behavioral immune system that is separate from, and complementary to, the physiological immune system. The two systems interact in a complex way. The psychological mechanisms (i.e. disgust and fear) involved in the behavioral immune system impact also on aspects that pertain to social psychology (i.e. xenophobia, conformism, and authoritarianism). Acknowledging the existence of psychological and behavioral adaptations to avoid infection has important implications for public health programs, including the necessity of fighting stigma and the dubious utility of trauma debriefing for healthcare workers facing the COVID-19 emergency.

What are the Key Characteristics of a 'Good' Psychotherapy? Calling for Ethical Patient Involvement

OBJECTIVE

The evidence-based practice movement clearly defines the relevant components of a good treatment. In the present article, we elaborate on how the active involvement of patients within psychotherapy can and should be increased in order to respect ethical considerations. Our arguments complement the requirements of evidence-based practice, and are independent of the actual psychotherapeutic treatment approach being used.

METHOD

Theoretical and ethical analysis.

RESULTS

In order to respect patient autonomy, psychotherapy needs to be transparent and honest when it comes to disclosing the relevant factors for promoting therapeutic change. It has been argued that ethical informed consent needs to include empirically supported patient information. In this paper we go one step further: we outline that fully respecting ethical considerations in psychotherapeutic treatment necessarily calls for acknowledging and strengthening the active role of patients in the course of psychotherapy. Accordingly, patients need not only to be informed openly and transparently about the planned treatment, the treatment rationale, and the expected prognosis of improvement in the course of psychotherapy, but they also need to be actively involved in the decision-making process and during the entire process of psychotherapeutic treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our arguments support the tendency that can be observed in health care in recent years towards more active patient involvement across different health-care domains, but also in clinical research. This article offers an ethical perspective on the question what defines a 'good psychotherapy', which, hopefully, will help to leave behind some of the ongoing psychotherapy debates and move the field forward.