An experimental investigation into the mediating role of pain-related fear in boosting nocebo hyperalgesia.

ABSTRACT: Nocebo hyperalgesia refers to increases in perceived pain that putatively result from negative expectations regarding a nocebo stimulus (eg, an inert treatment, compared with no treatment). The precise cognitive-emotional factors contributing to the origins of nocebo effects are poorly understood. We aimed to test the effects of experimentally induced pain-related fear on the acquisition and extinction of nocebo hyperalgesia in healthy participants (N = 72). Acquisition and extinction of nocebo hyperalgesia were compared between a group receiving standard nocebo conditioning (Control group) and 2 groups receiving distinct fear inductions: high intensity of pain stimulations (High-pain group) or a threat manipulation (High-threat group). During nocebo acquisition, the Control and High-threa

SUBMITTER: Thomaidou MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7737877 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature