There are neurobiological, cognitive and conditioning processes involved in placebo mechanisms
Mechanisms research has demonstrated that there is not one placebo effect, but many
Placebo effects are an inherent element in routine clinical practice
Modulation of placebo mechanisms in routine practice could provide an opportunity for improving clinical care.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BrodyH.The placebo response. Recent research and implications for family medicine. Journal of Family Practice2000;49:649–54.
2.
Stewart-WilliamsSPoddJ.The placebo effect: dissolving the expectancy versus conditioning debate. Psychological Bulletin2004;130:324–40.
3.
MoermanDEJonasWBDeconstructing the placebo effect and finding the meaning response. Annals of Internal Medicine2002;136:471–6.
4.
PriceDDFinnissDGBenedettiF.A comprehensive review of the placebo effect: recent advances and current thought. Annual Review of Psychology2008;59:565–90.
5.
BenedettiF.Placebo Effects: Understanding the mechanisms in health and disease: Oxford University Press, 2009.
6.
FinnissDGBenedettiF.Mechanisms of the placebo response and their impact on clinical trials and clinical practice. Pain2005;114:3–6.
7.
CollocaLBenedettiF.Placebos and painkillers: is mind as real as matter?Nature Reviews Neuroscience2005;6:545–52.
8.
PriceDDMillingLSKirschIDuffAMontgomeryGHNichollsSSAn analysis of factors that contribute to the magnitude of placebo analgesia in an experimental paradigm. Pain1999;83:147–56.
9.
AmanzioMBenedettiF.Neuropharmacological dissection of placebo analgesia: expectation-activated opioid systems versus conditioning-activated specific subsystems. Journal of Neuroscience1999;19:484–94.
10.
MontgomeryGHKirschI.Classical conditioning and the placebo effect. Pain1997;72:107–113.
11.
PolloAAmanzioMArslanianACasadioCMaggiGBenedettiF.Response expectancies in placebo analgesia and their clinical relevance. Pain2001;93:77–84.
12.
VaseLRobinsonMEVerneGNPriceDDThe contributions of suggestion, desire, and expectation to placebo effects in irritable bowel syndrome patients. An empirical investigation. Pain2003;105:17–25.
13.
VerneGRobinsonMVaseLPriceD.Reversal of visceral and cutaneous hyperalgesia by local rectal anesthesia in irritable bowl syndrome (IBS) patients. Pain2003;105:223–30.
14.
BenedettiFPolloALopianoLLanotteMVighettiSRaineroI.Conscious expectation and unconscious conditioning in analgesic, motor, and hormonal placebo/nocebo responses. Journal of Neuroscience2003;23:4315–4323.
15.
VoudourisNJPeckCLColemanG.Conditioned response models of placebo phenomena: further support. Pain1989;38:109–116.
16.
VoudourisNJPeckCLColemanG.The role of conditioning and verbal expectancy in the placebo response. Pain1990;43:121–128.
17.
LevineJDGordonNCFieldsHLThe mechanism of placebo analgesia. Lancet1978;2:654–7.
18.
GrevertPAlbertLHGoldsteinA.Partial antagonism of placebo analgesia by naloxone. Pain1983;16:129–143.
19.
BenedettiF.The opposite effects of the opiate antagonist naloxone and the cholecystokinin antagonist proglumide on placebo analgesia. Pain1996;64:535–543.
20.
BenedettiFAmanzioMMaggiG.Potentiation of placebo analgesia by proglumide. Lancet1995;346:1231.
21.
BenedettiFAmanzioMBaldiSCasadioCCavalloAMancusoMThe specific effects of prior opioid exposure on placebo analgesia and placebo respiratory depression. Pain1998;75:313–319.
22.
BenedettiFAmanzioMBaldiSCasadioCMaggiG.Inducing placebo respiratory depressant responses in humans via opioid receptors. European Journal of Neuroscience1999a;11:625–631.
23.
PolloAVighettiSRaineroIBenedettiF.Placebo analgesia and the heart. Pain2003;102:125–133.
24.
BenedettiFArduinoCAmanzioM.Somatotopic activation of opioid systems by target-directed expectations of analgesia. Journal of Neuroscience1999b;19:3639–3648.
25.
PetrovicPKalsoEPeterssonKMIngvarM.Placebo and opioid analgesia - imaging a shared neuronal network. Science2002;295:1737–40.
26.
ZubietaJKBuellerJAJacksonLRScottDJXuYKoeppeRAPlacebo effects mediated by endogenous opioid neurotransmission and μ-opioid receptors. Journal of Neuroscience2005;25:7754–62.
27.
PetrovicPDietrichTFranssonPAndersonJCarlssonKIngvarM.Placebo in emotional processing - induced expectations of anxiety relief activate a generalized modulatory network. Neuron2005;46:957–969.
28.
WagerTDRillingJKSmithEESokolikACaseyKLDavidsonRJPlacebo-Induced Changes in fMRI in the Anticipation and Experience of Pain. Science2004;303:1162–1166.
29.
PriceDDCraggsJVerneGNPerlsteinWMRobinsonME. Placebo analgesia is accompanied by large reductions in pain-related brain activity in irritable bowel syndrome patients. Pain2007;127:63–72.
30.
CollocaLLopianoLLanotteMBenedettiF.Overt versus covert treatment for pain, anxiety, and Parkinson's disease. Lancet Neurology2004;3:679–684.
31.
KaptchukTKelleyJMConboyLADavisRBKerrCEJacobsonEEComponents of placebo effect: randomised controlled trial in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. British Medical Journal2008;336:999–1003.