Nocebo Effect: Difference between revisions

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== Introduction ==
== Introduction ==
The nocebo effect, the mirror-phenomenon to the placebo effect, is when the expectation of a negative outcome precipitates the corresponding symptom or leads to its exacerbation<ref name=":0">Cohen S. [[The nocebo effect of informed consent.]] Bioethics. 2014 Mar;28(3):147-54.</ref>


== Sub Heading 2 ==
In contrast to the placebo effect of positive expectation which results in health benefits, the nocebo effect worsens the health status due to negative beliefs and expectations. Originally these terms were used for 'inactive' treatments (eg. sugar pill), but the words we use are an integral part of these effects.<ref name=":1">Dorow B. [https://scal-pt-residencyfellowship.kaiserpermanente.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Words-that-Hurt-and-Heal-Final.pdf Words that Hurt, Words that Heal.] [PowerPoint presentation]. Kaiser Permanente Persistent Pain Fellowship.</ref>


== Sub Heading 3 ==
== Language Matters ==
''Research has shown that effective communication skills are paramount for delivering efficient and quality health care. More recently, research has started to show that in addition to how the medical information is delivered, the words used by health care providers are important factors in how patients cope with illness and their reports of pain intensity and disability.'' <ref name=":2">Vranceanu AM, Elbon M, Ring D. [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0894113010002048 The emotive impact of orthopedic words.] Journal of Hand Therapy. 2011 Apr 1;24(2):112-7.</ref>
 
Impact of Language<ref>Stewart M, Loftus S. [https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2018.0610 Sticks and stones: the impact of language in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.] journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy. 2018 Jul;48(7):519-22.</ref>
 
=== Communication ===
Patient-clinician communication<ref>Colloca L, Finniss D. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6909539/ Nocebo effects, patient-clinician communication, and therapeutic outcomes.] Jama. 2012 Feb 8;307(6):567-8.</ref>
 
=== Words ===
Emotive power of words<ref name=":2" />
 
== Ethics ==
 
=== Informed Consent ===
''One of the basic ethical duties in health care is to obtain informed consent from patients before treatment; however, the disclosure of information regarding potential complications or side effects that this involves may precipitate a nocebo effect.''<ref name=":0" />
 
== Evidence of Nocebo Effects ==
 
* ICU<ref>Huynh KN, Rouse-Watson S, Chu J, Lane AS, Cyna AM. [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/17511437231214148 Unheard and unseen: The hidden impact of nocebo communication in the Intensive Care Unit.] Journal of the Intensive Care Society. 2023 Nov 29:17511437231214148.</ref>
* Postural Stability<ref>Russell K, Duncan M, Price M, Mosewich A, Ellmers T, Hill M. [https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2022.967722/full A comparison of placebo and nocebo effects on objective and subjective postural stability: a double-edged sword?.] Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2022 Aug 18;16:967722.</ref>
* Low back pan: Routine imaging leads to worse outcomes compared to a clinical report (reassurance of incidental findings). Early MRI's for LBP results in longer length of disability, higher medical cost and worse outcomes regardless of radiculopathy (after controlling for severity and demographics)<ref name=":1" />
* Hyperalgesia: Higher levels of fear of pain significantly increases stress levels and is associated with increased nocebo hyperalgesia<ref name=":1" />
 
== Reframing Words ==
In rehabilitation<ref>Hohenschurz-Schmidt D, Thomson OP, Rossettini G, Miciak M, Newell D, Roberts L, Vase L, Draper-Rodi J. [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468781222001771 Avoiding nocebo and other undesirable effects in chiropractic, osteopathy and physiotherapy: An invitation to reflect.] Musculoskeletal Science and Practice. 2022 Oct 21:102677.</ref>
 
In Orthopaedics <ref name=":1" />
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Harmful Words
!Reframed Wording
|-
|You have to do X before "..."
 
* "...your insurance will cover imaging"
* "...you can get more medication"
|If you do X, you can "..."
 
* "...avoid surgery"
* "...prevent worsening"
* "...rely on less medication"
|-
|You have the joint of an 80-year old
|
|-
|Your joint is bone on bone
|A lot of people without pain also have this
|-
|That is the worst joint I have ever seen
|
|-
|No wonder you are in pain
|This doesn't have to be a life sentence to pain
|}


== Resources  ==
== Resources  ==

Revision as of 11:34, 21 December 2023

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Original Editor - Melissa Coetsee

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Introduction[edit | edit source]

The nocebo effect, the mirror-phenomenon to the placebo effect, is when the expectation of a negative outcome precipitates the corresponding symptom or leads to its exacerbation[1]

In contrast to the placebo effect of positive expectation which results in health benefits, the nocebo effect worsens the health status due to negative beliefs and expectations. Originally these terms were used for 'inactive' treatments (eg. sugar pill), but the words we use are an integral part of these effects.[2]

Language Matters[edit | edit source]

Research has shown that effective communication skills are paramount for delivering efficient and quality health care. More recently, research has started to show that in addition to how the medical information is delivered, the words used by health care providers are important factors in how patients cope with illness and their reports of pain intensity and disability. [3]

Impact of Language[4]

Communication[edit | edit source]

Patient-clinician communication[5]

Words[edit | edit source]

Emotive power of words[3]

Ethics[edit | edit source]

Informed Consent[edit | edit source]

One of the basic ethical duties in health care is to obtain informed consent from patients before treatment; however, the disclosure of information regarding potential complications or side effects that this involves may precipitate a nocebo effect.[1]

Evidence of Nocebo Effects[edit | edit source]

  • ICU[6]
  • Postural Stability[7]
  • Low back pan: Routine imaging leads to worse outcomes compared to a clinical report (reassurance of incidental findings). Early MRI's for LBP results in longer length of disability, higher medical cost and worse outcomes regardless of radiculopathy (after controlling for severity and demographics)[2]
  • Hyperalgesia: Higher levels of fear of pain significantly increases stress levels and is associated with increased nocebo hyperalgesia[2]

Reframing Words[edit | edit source]

In rehabilitation[8]

In Orthopaedics [2]

Harmful Words Reframed Wording
You have to do X before "..."
  • "...your insurance will cover imaging"
  • "...you can get more medication"
If you do X, you can "..."
  • "...avoid surgery"
  • "...prevent worsening"
  • "...rely on less medication"
You have the joint of an 80-year old
Your joint is bone on bone A lot of people without pain also have this
That is the worst joint I have ever seen
No wonder you are in pain This doesn't have to be a life sentence to pain

Resources[edit | edit source]

  • bulleted list
  • x

or

  1. numbered list
  2. x

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Cohen S. The nocebo effect of informed consent. Bioethics. 2014 Mar;28(3):147-54.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Dorow B. Words that Hurt, Words that Heal. [PowerPoint presentation]. Kaiser Permanente Persistent Pain Fellowship.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Vranceanu AM, Elbon M, Ring D. The emotive impact of orthopedic words. Journal of Hand Therapy. 2011 Apr 1;24(2):112-7.
  4. Stewart M, Loftus S. Sticks and stones: the impact of language in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy. 2018 Jul;48(7):519-22.
  5. Colloca L, Finniss D. Nocebo effects, patient-clinician communication, and therapeutic outcomes. Jama. 2012 Feb 8;307(6):567-8.
  6. Huynh KN, Rouse-Watson S, Chu J, Lane AS, Cyna AM. Unheard and unseen: The hidden impact of nocebo communication in the Intensive Care Unit. Journal of the Intensive Care Society. 2023 Nov 29:17511437231214148.
  7. Russell K, Duncan M, Price M, Mosewich A, Ellmers T, Hill M. A comparison of placebo and nocebo effects on objective and subjective postural stability: a double-edged sword?. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2022 Aug 18;16:967722.
  8. Hohenschurz-Schmidt D, Thomson OP, Rossettini G, Miciak M, Newell D, Roberts L, Vase L, Draper-Rodi J. Avoiding nocebo and other undesirable effects in chiropractic, osteopathy and physiotherapy: An invitation to reflect. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice. 2022 Oct 21:102677.