Positive social modeling attenuates nocebo side effects.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Receiving negative instructions and observing another's adverse treatment-related experience can lead to worsened health outcomes via the nocebo effect. However, it is unknown whether the observation of a positive treatment-related experience can mitigate these effects.

Purpose

To investigate whether a positive social modeling intervention can reduce nocebo side effects induced by instruction and social modeling.

Methods

Participants (N = 160) were told the study assessed a new cognitive enhancer (actually a placebo). Participants received side effect warnings and viewed an informational video describing the medication. Placebo-treated groups were randomized to either watch an additional clip where a peer reported a positive experience with no side effects

SUBMITTER: Saunders C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12260372 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature