Trait responsiveness to verbal suggestions predicts nocebo responding: A meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Nocebo responding involves the experience of adverse health outcomes in response to contextual cues. These deleterious responses impact numerous features of mental and physical health but are characterized by pronounced heterogeneity. Suggestion is widely recognized as a contributing factor to nocebo responding but the moderating role of trait responsiveness to verbal suggestions (suggestibility) in nocebo responding remains poorly understood.

Objective

We conducted a pre-registered meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration number CRD42023425605) to quantitatively synthesize available research on the relationship between suggestibility and nocebo responding.

Methods

Four electronic databases were searched for original studies involving both the assessment of sug

SUBMITTER: Stein MV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11662164 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature