The Nocebo Effect

Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2023 Aug 16. doi: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-022723-112425. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTAdverse nocebo responses can cause harm to patients and interfere with treatment adherence and effects in both clinic practice and clinical trials. Nocebo responses refer to negative outcomes to active medical treatments in clinical trials or practice that cannot be explained by the treatment's pharmacologic effects. Negative expectancies and nocebo effects are less known than placebo responses. Nocebo effects can be triggered by verbal suggestions, prior negative experiences, observation of others experiencing negative outcomes, and other contextual and environmental factors. As research advances over the years, mechanistic knowledge is accumulating on the neurobiological mechanisms of nocebo effects. This review summarizes studies on different facets of nocebo effects and responses and discusses clinical implications, ethical considerations, and future directions. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Volume 64 is January 2024. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.PMID:37585661 | DOI:10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-022723-112425
Source: Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Source Type: research