5092.0: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 - 12:30 PM

Abstract #8657

It's all in your head: Placebo, Nocebo, and the mind-body connection

Susan Yael Smith, MA, CCHT, Coalition for Integrative Medicine, 3130 Eton Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705, 510-652-4235, cmeleon@earthlink.net

Placebo effect in healing has been well-documented in medical literature. If a patient receives an intervention, she may expect to feel better. And indeed, she may, despite possibly having received a placebo, or sugar pill. The corollary, Nocebo, is less well known. If a patient’s beliefs and expectations can cause her to feel better, it is only logical that they can also cause her to feel worse. Simply stated, the patient believes she will not recover, and does not, sometimes despite physical evidence to suggest the contrary. Due to growing awareness of this important concept, a Nocebo Conference was held in 1997. Patients trust their physicians, who have tremendous influence on patient attitudes and beliefs about their illnesses. A physician may initiate a nocebo (or placebo) response without being aware of it. Placebo and nocebo illustrate the power of the mind and of belief systems in the healing process. Practitioners of Allopathic and Complementary Medicine will benefit from understanding the connection between the mind and body, attitudes and beliefs, in the patient’s healing or failure to heal. As Complementary and Alternative Medicine modalities are increasingly subject to research to demonstrate measurable clinical outcomes, it is crucial to keep in mind the influence which the attitudes and beliefs of the patient and practitioner bring to bear on the health of the patient. This presentation will provide an overview of placebo and nocebo effects in medical literature, and implications for incorporating conscious use of mind/body medicine to enhance the healing process

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant will be able to: 1. Define and describe Placebo and Nocebo 2. Cite three major studies of Placebo Effect 3. Discuss the implications of Placebo research in promoting mind-body healing

Keywords: Healing, Alternative Medicine/Therapies

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA