Institute of Medical Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Auton Neurosci. 2011 Oct 28;164(1-2):62-6. doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2011.06.006. Epub 2011 Jul 14.
There is increasing evidence that verbal suggestions accompanying placebo interventions can alter autonomic functions. The underlying mechanisms of these changes are not well understood. However, previous studies point at the specificity of such effects. The aim of the experiment was to lower blood pressure by a placebo intervention and to investigate the specificity of autonomic changes. Forty-five healthy participants received a single administration of an active drug (a homeopathic remedy), an identically-looking placebo drug, or no drug. Active drugs and placebo drugs were administered in a double-blind design and were accompanied by verbal suggestions of a blood-pressure lowering effect. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, the electrocardiogram, electrodermal activity, and the electrogastrogram were recorded during 30min before and after the intervention, and changes in situational anxiety were assessed. Results indicated a decrease of systolic blood pressure in the placebo group, as compared to the control group. Diastolic blood pressure levels, heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, skin conductance, gastric slow-wave frequency and situational anxiety did not change differentially between groups. In conclusion, the reduction in systolic blood pressure following the placebo intervention could not be attributed to stress relief or anxiety reduction. Rather, results suggest that the placebo intervention specifically reduced systolic blood pressure.
越来越多的证据表明，伴随安慰剂干预的口头暗示可以改变自主功能。这些变化的潜在机制尚不清楚。然而，先前的研究指出了这种影响的特异性。实验的目的是通过安慰剂干预降低血压，并研究自主变化的特异性。45 名健康参与者接受了单次给予的活性药物（顺势疗法药物）、外观相同的安慰剂药物或无药物治疗。活性药物和安慰剂药物以双盲设计给予，并伴有降低血压效果的口头暗示。在干预前后的 30 分钟内记录收缩压和舒张压、心电图、皮肤电活动和胃电活动，并评估情境焦虑的变化。结果表明，与对照组相比，安慰剂组的收缩压下降。舒张压、心率、呼吸窦性心律失常、皮肤电导、胃慢波频率和情境焦虑在组间没有差异变化。总之，安慰剂干预后收缩压的降低不能归因于缓解压力或降低焦虑。相反，结果表明安慰剂干预特异性地降低了收缩压。
