Ethnic Differences in Experimental Pain Responses Following a Paired Verbal Suggestion With Saline Infusion: A Quasiexperimental Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ethnic differences in placebo and nocebo responses are an important, yet underresearched, patient factor that might contribute to treatment disparities.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine ethnic differences in pain trajectories following a verbal suggestion paired with a masked, inert substance (i.e., saline).

Methods

Using a quasiexperimental design, we examined differences between 21 non-Hispanic Black (NHB) participants and 20 non-Hispanic White (NHW) participants in capsaicin-related pain rating trajectories following a nondirectional verbal suggestion + saline infusion. All participants were told that the substance would "either increase pain sensation, decrease it, or leave it unchanged." A spline mixed model was used to quantify the int

SUBMITTER: Letzen JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7880220 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature