Publication: Expectancies and avoidance: Towards an integrated model of chronic somatic symptoms

Expectancy and avoidance learning are important mechanisms in understanding chronic somatic conditions. Despite evidence suggesting they are interconnected, the dynamics of how expectancies and avoidance affect each other remain underexplored. A recent study by Gita Nadinda, Antoinette van Laarhoven, Omer van den Bergh, Johan Vlaeyen, Madelon Peters, and Andrea Evers seeks to clarify this interaction through the frameworks of predictive coding and active inference.

Their findings show that the interplay between expectancies and avoidance can worsen chronic pain, itch, and fatigue. They argue for the combined evaluation of these mechanisms, as avoidance not only arises due to expectancies but also creates new expectancies, which are often dysfunctional. The study further sheds light on how expectations are updated based on prior experiences and sensory input. Additionally, researchers highlight a need for more integrated empirical studies, as most existing research has treated expectancy and avoidance as separate mechanisms.

Want to know more? Read the full article here.