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Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 3/2016

01-06-2016 | Original Article

You Can’t Always Get What You Want: The Influence of Choice on Nocebo and Placebo Responding

Authors: Hannah Bartley, MS, Kate Faasse, PhD, Rob Horne, PhD, Keith J. Petrie, PhD

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 3/2016

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Abstract

Objective

Choice may be an important influence on the effectiveness and side effects of medical treatments.

Purpose

We investigated the impact of having a choice of medication compared to no choice on both nocebo and placebo responding.

Methods

Sixty-one participants were randomly assigned to either choose between or be assigned to one of the two equivalent beta-blocker medications (actually placebos) for pre-examination anxiety.

Results

There was a greater nocebo response in the no choice group and an increased placebo response in the choice group. Participants in the no choice group attributed significantly more side effects to the tablet than the choice group (p = 0.045), particularly at the 24-h follow-up (p = 0.002). The choice group showed a stronger placebo response in heart rate than the non-choice group.

Conclusion

Not being given a choice of medication increased the nocebo effect and reduced the placebo response to the treatment.
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Metadata
Title
You Can’t Always Get What You Want: The Influence of Choice on Nocebo and Placebo Responding
Authors
Hannah Bartley, MS
Kate Faasse, PhD
Rob Horne, PhD
Keith J. Petrie, PhD
Publication date
01-06-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 3/2016
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-016-9772-1

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