Barnes Kirsten, Nicholls Kate, Orlievsky Sascha, Pei Christopher, Elder Christopher, Faasse Kate
University of New South Wales, School of Psychology.
Health Psychol. 2024 Mar;43(3):225-236. doi: 10.1037/hea0001334. Epub 2023 Nov 27.
Side effect information is routinely communicated online. However, limited experimental evidence exists regarding the role of this information in generating maladaptive health outcomes (i.e., the nocebo effect). A novel paradigm was developed to remotely induce the nocebo effect via provision of online side effect information.
Participants were given information regarding the positive effects of low frequency noise (LFN). A proportion were additionally warned of LFN-induced side effects. Study 1 (N = 423) investigated the source of information (listed vs. socially communicated side effects), while Study 2 (N = 560) investigated the role of positive and negative affects on attenuating and exacerbating the nocebo effect. Pooled analysis (N = 983) explored the effect of negative and positive expectations on both the nocebo effect and positive outcomes.
Across studies, a significant nocebo effect in the warned side effects occurred after LFN exposure. This did not vary by source of information (Study 1) nor was it attenuated via the induction of positive affect (Study 2). Both studies demonstrated a reduction in positive outcomes among those receiving side effect information. Pooled analysis revealed that negative, but not positive, expectations mediated the nocebo effect. Positive and negative expectations interacted to predict positive outcomes. Holding negative expectations appeared to block positive health outcomes. Specifically, when negative expectations were above average, there was no effect of positive expectations on positive outcomes.
Nocebo effects were remotely generated via minimal provision of side effect information. Pooled analysis revealed that future interventions should target positive and negative expectations to reduce side effects. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
副作用信息通常会在网上传播。然而，关于此类信息在引发适应不良的健康结果（即反安慰剂效应）中所起作用的实验证据有限。我们开发了一种新的范式，通过提供在线副作用信息来远程诱发反安慰剂效应。
向参与者提供关于低频噪声（LFN）积极作用的信息。一部分参与者还被警告了LFN会引发的副作用。研究1（N = 423）调查了信息来源（列出的副作用与社交传播的副作用），而研究2（N = 560）调查了积极和消极情绪对减轻和加剧反安慰剂效应的作用。汇总分析（N = 983）探讨了消极和积极预期对反安慰剂效应和积极结果的影响。
在各项研究中，接触LFN后，被警告副作用的参与者出现了显著的反安慰剂效应。这种效应在信息来源方面没有差异（研究1），也不会因诱发积极情绪而减弱（研究2）。两项研究均表明，收到副作用信息的参与者的积极结果有所减少。汇总分析显示，是消极预期而非积极预期介导了反安慰剂效应。积极和消极预期相互作用以预测积极结果。持有消极预期似乎会阻碍积极的健康结果。具体而言，当消极预期高于平均水平时，积极预期对积极结果没有影响。
通过最少地提供副作用信息远程诱发了反安慰剂效应。汇总分析表明，未来的干预措施应针对积极和消极预期以减少副作用。（PsycInfo数据库记录（c）2024美国心理学会，保留所有权利）
