Information About the Optimism of a Placebo/Nocebo Provider and Placebo/Nocebo Side Effects.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Research has demonstrated that personality characteristics, such as optimism are associated with placebo/nocebo responding. The present study investigated whether written information about the optimism of a placebo/nocebo provider can influence the occurrence of reported placebo/nocebo side effects.

Method

We analyzed data from 201 females (mean age = 26 years) who participated in a "clinical study on a new massage oil with stone clover extract." The oil (sunflower oil) was introduced as either eliciting a negative side effect (unpleasant itching; "nocebo oil") or a positive side effect (pleasant tingling; "placebo oil"). The administration of the oil was combined with written information about the maker of the product. The oil maker was either portrayed as a very

SUBMITTER: Schlintl C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7841374 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature