The Role of Patient-Practitioner Relationships in Placebo and Nocebo Phenomena

Placebo and nocebo effects form part of all therapeutic environments and play a significant role in the effectiveness of treatment outcomes. Patient expectancies drive these phenomena, which can be shaped through contextual factors including verbal suggestions, conditioning, and social observation.

This review seeks to identify the biopsychosocial factors of the patient-practitioner interaction that play a role in the development of placebo and nocebo effects, as well as the anthropological elements of the biodynamic process of relating that are meaningful in the development of expectancies.

We conducted a narrative review of frameworks of the placebo and nocebo effect, including the impact of expectancies and interpersonal relationships in the context of healing and the clinical setting.

Expectancies leading to placebo and nocebo effects can be modified by macro and micro factors, such as culture and society, as well as individual psychobiological traits, respectively. The developmental sociobiological adaptations that form and consolidate mindsets and meaningful contexts play an important role in shaping patient expectancies, as well as patients' conscious and subconscious reactions to signs and actions taking place within the clinical environment. Practitioner characteristics, like empathy, friendliness, and competence, favor the formation of positive expectancies. Caring and warm patient-practitioner interactions can enhance the therapeutic value of clinical encounters when patients' positive expectancies are actively encouraged and engaged.

A patient-centered approach rooted in demonstrating care and empathy can positively enhance a patient's experience within the clinical environment and activate psychosociobiological adaptations associated with the placebo phenomenon. Pain patients could particularly benefit from non-invasive approaches for improving treatment effectiveness and quality-of-life.