The role of conditioning and verbal expectancy in the placebo response

Author: Voudouris, N.J.; Peck, C.L.; Coleman, G.

Description: Both conditioning and expectancy models have been offered in recent years as explanations for the placebo response. Following our earlier work on conditioning placebo responses in human subjects the current study examined the relative contribution made by conditioning and verbal expectancy. Group 1 received a Combined Expectancy and Conditioning Manipulation; group 2 received Expectancy Alone; group 3, Conditioning Alone; and group 4 was the control group. Subjects’ responses were compared with and without a placebo cream, using iontophoretic pain stimulation. The results suggest that conditioning was more powerful than verbal expectancy in creating a placebo response.

Subject headings: Adolescent; Adult; Conditioning (Psychology)/physiology; Female; Humans; Iontophoresis; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Psychological; Pain/psychology; Placebos; Reinforcement, Verbal

Publication year: 1990

Journal or book title: Pain

Volume: 43

Issue: 1

Pages: 121-128

Find the full text : http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/030439599090057K

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Type: Journal Article

Serial number: 332