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Placebo-like analgesia via response imagery
K J Peerdeman1,2, A I M van Laarhoven1,2,3, D J P Bartels1,2
1Unit Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
European Journal of Pain (London, England)
|April 20, 2017
Summary
Mental imagery of pain reduction can create placebo-like effects by influencing pain expectations. This study shows response imagery effectively reduces pain perception through expectancy mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
Background:
- Placebo effects significantly influence pain perception.
- Response expectancies are a key mechanism behind placebo effects.
- The role of mental imagery in inducing placebo-like effects on pain remains under-explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether mental imagery of pain responses can induce placebo-like expectancy effects.
- To examine the impact of response imagery on pain perception and expectations.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted with healthy participants using cold pressor tests.
- Participants were allocated to response imagery, control imagery, or no intervention groups.
- Measures included expected pain, experienced pain, and psychological/physiological indicators.
Main Results:
- Response imagery significantly reduced pain intensity compared to control conditions in both studies.
- The analgesic effect of response imagery was mediated by reduced pain expectations.
- Verbal suggestion did not significantly enhance the effect of response imagery on pain.
Conclusions:
- Response imagery can induce analgesia, similar to placebo effects.
- This effect is mediated by the modulation of response expectancies.
- Mental imagery represents a novel pathway for generating placebo-like pain reduction.