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The Diabetes Educator

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Evaluation & the Health Professions
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Placebo/Nocebo Symptom Reporting in a Sham Herbal Supplement Trial

Jessica Link

Rob Haggard

Kimberly Kelly

Dan Forrer

University of North Texas

The present study examined reports of placebo and nocebo symptoms in a college sample. The study was presented under the guise of a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of an over-the-counter herbal supplement intended to enhance cognitive performance. Participants were informed they would be receiving either an herbal supplement or a placebo, and each was provided with a mock list of possible beneficial and adverse effects of the "supplement." In fact, all participants received placebo. Symptoms were endorsed by a significant majority of participants following placebo ingestion. More important, results indicated that the few participants who believed they received an herbal supplement endorsed (via self-report) significantly more symptoms than those who believed they received a placebo. Neither anxiety nor social desirability was significantly related to symptom reporting. Results suggest that beliefs concerning treatment received may subsequently affect the degree of placebo response in a no-treatment group. Implications for clinical trials and future research are discussed.

Key Words: placebo • nocebo • expectancy • anxiety • social desirability

Evaluation & the Health Professions, Vol. 29, No. 4, 394-406 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0163278706293403
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