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Placebo And Nocebo
We all know the placebo effect, where the psychological affect the physiological. When a patient firmly believes that a medicine will work, no matter if the pills are of sugar: they will work all the same.
But not many of us are familiar with the opposite: the nocebo effect.
It is the downside of placebo. Because if faith in something heals, mistrust can make you ill.
According to a study carried out by the University of Munich, the phenomenon is surprisingly common. A series of experiments showed clearly that what doctors say can define the perception of a patient. For example, when a patient is told that a medication will have negative side effects, more often than not, the patient experiences those negative side effects, whether or not they are given the medication or a harmless placebo.
The conclusions of the study is that doctors should be aware that what they tell to their patients can have an impact also in physiological terms, and on the therapeutic outcome.
But not many of us are familiar with the opposite: the nocebo effect.
It is the downside of placebo. Because if faith in something heals, mistrust can make you ill.
According to a study carried out by the University of Munich, the phenomenon is surprisingly common. A series of experiments showed clearly that what doctors say can define the perception of a patient. For example, when a patient is told that a medication will have negative side effects, more often than not, the patient experiences those negative side effects, whether or not they are given the medication or a harmless placebo.
The conclusions of the study is that doctors should be aware that what they tell to their patients can have an impact also in physiological terms, and on the therapeutic outcome.