Placebo and nocebo effects in physical symptoms

Placebo and nocebo effect have been shown to affect a wide range of physical symptoms: pain, itch, breathlessness.  In IPS we focus on: 1) placebo and nocebo effects on physical symptoms, 2) the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms of placebo and nocebo effects on physical symptoms, 3) the short-term and longer-term psychophysiological consequences of placebo and nocebo effects, and 4) training of the expectancy mechanisms, for example by pharmacological conditioning or counterconditioning procedures in healthy subjects and patients.

 

Projects

Best possible pain expectations

This project tries to determine optimal pain expectancies by investigating how their magnitude and precision affect pain and associated affective responses (e.g., disappointment/relief, trust). 

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Psychological factors in itch and pain

How psychophysiological factors can play a role in the experience of itch and pain, both sensations that warn us for potential threat to our body.

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The role of expectancies and avoidance learning in the maintenance of somatic symptoms

Uncover behavioral and cognitive mechanisms involved in the chronification of somatic symptoms.

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Open label placebo for itch

In various research projects, we investigate how open-label placebo and nocebo verbal suggestions affect itch. If our understanding of open-label placebo and nocebo effects can be furthered, the generated knowledge may then be used to develop novel clinical applications and improve existing treatments for patients suffering from itch and itch-related conditions.

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The effects of stress and fear on nocebo hyperalgesia

In several research projects, we investigate what role stress and fear play in forming of nocebo hyperalgesia. Understanding the role of stress and fear in nocebo hyperalgesia, would bring us closer to finding ways to avoid nocebo effects in clinical practice.

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Other themes

Placebo and nocebo effects in the brain

At IPS, we are dedicated to advancing the understanding of the brain mechanisms behind the placebo and nocebo effect.

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Placebo and nocebo effects in the immune and endocrine system

Expectancies have been shown to affect not only self-reported outcomes, such as pain and itch, but also physiological markers such as endocrine and immune responses.

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Placebo effects in children

Research is often done with adult volunteers. This is also true for research on how placebo and nocebo effects influence medical conditions and symptoms, and wellbeing.

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Therapeutic interventions to maximize placebo and minimize nocebo effects

Basic research generates a lot of knowledge on how placebo and nocebo effects work. At IPS we strive to translate this knowledge into feasible and easy to apply clinical applications and therapeutic interventions for people with chronic medical complaints or health conditions. 

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Communication and clinical education about placebo and nocebo effects

The words and the behaviour of a healthcare professional can determine much of a treatment’s success.

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