A systematic review of sex differences in the placebo and the nocebo effect

Sara M Vambheim,1 Magne Arve Flaten2 1Department of Psychology, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, 2Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway Objectives: The present review investigated whether there are systematic sex di...

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Main Authors: Vambheim SM, Flaten MA
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2017-07-01
Series:Journal of Pain Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/a-systematic-review-of-sex-differences-in-the-placebo-and-the-nocebo-e-peer-reviewed-article-JPR
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spelling doaj-23a951930cb74ee4b2145c0f0ddeeeb62020-11-24T22:48:12ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Pain Research1178-70902017-07-01Volume 101831183934032A systematic review of sex differences in the placebo and the nocebo effectVambheim SMFlaten MASara M Vambheim,1 Magne Arve Flaten2 1Department of Psychology, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, 2Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway Objectives: The present review investigated whether there are systematic sex differences in the placebo and the nocebo effect. Methods: A literature search was conducted in multiple electronic databases. Studies were included if the study compared a group or condition where a placebo was administered to a natural history group or similar cohort. Results: Eighteen studies were identified – 12 on placebo effects and 6 on nocebo effects. Chi-square tests revealed that 1) males responded more strongly to placebo treatment, and females responded more strongly to nocebo treatment, and 2) males responded with larger placebo effects induced by verbal information, and females responded with larger nocebo effects induced by conditioning procedures. Conclusion: This review indicates that there are sex differences in the placebo and nocebo effects, probably caused by sex differences in stress, anxiety, and the endogenous opioid system. Keywords: placebo response, nocebo response, placebo analgesia, nocebo hyperalgesia, sex differenceshttps://www.dovepress.com/a-systematic-review-of-sex-differences-in-the-placebo-and-the-nocebo-e-peer-reviewed-article-JPRplacebo effectnocebo effectplacebo responsenocebo responseplacebo analgesianocebo hyperalgesiasex differences
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Vambheim SM
Flaten MA
spellingShingle Vambheim SM
Flaten MA
A systematic review of sex differences in the placebo and the nocebo effect
Journal of Pain Research
placebo effect
nocebo effect
placebo response
nocebo response
placebo analgesia
nocebo hyperalgesia
sex differences
author_facet Vambheim SM
Flaten MA
author_sort Vambheim SM
title A systematic review of sex differences in the placebo and the nocebo effect
title_short A systematic review of sex differences in the placebo and the nocebo effect
title_full A systematic review of sex differences in the placebo and the nocebo effect
title_fullStr A systematic review of sex differences in the placebo and the nocebo effect
title_full_unstemmed A systematic review of sex differences in the placebo and the nocebo effect
title_sort systematic review of sex differences in the placebo and the nocebo effect
publisher Dove Medical Press
series Journal of Pain Research
issn 1178-7090
publishDate 2017-07-01
description Sara M Vambheim,1 Magne Arve Flaten2 1Department of Psychology, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, 2Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway Objectives: The present review investigated whether there are systematic sex differences in the placebo and the nocebo effect. Methods: A literature search was conducted in multiple electronic databases. Studies were included if the study compared a group or condition where a placebo was administered to a natural history group or similar cohort. Results: Eighteen studies were identified – 12 on placebo effects and 6 on nocebo effects. Chi-square tests revealed that 1) males responded more strongly to placebo treatment, and females responded more strongly to nocebo treatment, and 2) males responded with larger placebo effects induced by verbal information, and females responded with larger nocebo effects induced by conditioning procedures. Conclusion: This review indicates that there are sex differences in the placebo and nocebo effects, probably caused by sex differences in stress, anxiety, and the endogenous opioid system. Keywords: placebo response, nocebo response, placebo analgesia, nocebo hyperalgesia, sex differences
topic placebo effect
nocebo effect
placebo response
nocebo response
placebo analgesia
nocebo hyperalgesia
sex differences
url https://www.dovepress.com/a-systematic-review-of-sex-differences-in-the-placebo-and-the-nocebo-e-peer-reviewed-article-JPR
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