People tend to be more familiar with the nocebo effect’s counterpart, theplacebo effect.
In the placebo effect, people experience positive effects as a result of their positive expectations.
The nocebo effect is its opposing counterpart.
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The nocebo effect has the potential to cause serious consequences in real-world medical configs where people receive care.
These include:
Challenges
Researchers have found that the phenomenon is both surprisingly common and serious.
People who fear that treatment will cause pain may end up avoiding treatment.
This phenomenon is also a powerful example of hownegative thinkingcan influence your health and well-being.
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Mitsikostas DD, Mantonakis LI, Chalarakis NG.Nocebo is the enemy, not placebo.
A meta-analysis of reported side effects after placebo treatment in headaches.Cephalalgia.
2001;2(4):259-66. doi:10.1046/j.1526-4637.2001.01044.x
