The ABCs - N is for Nocebo

*The term 'nocebo'was coined in 1961 by Walter Kennedy. 'Nocebo' means 'I shall harm'. It is the opposite of 'placebo'. The term 'placebo' means 'I shall please'.

*taken from HERE

In the medical sense, a 'nocebo reaction' is where a **drug-trial subject's symptoms are made worse by the administration of a placebo. It is entirely due to the subject's pessimistic belief and expectation that the drug that was given would produce harmful, injurious, unpleasant or undesirable consequences.

**taken from HERE

***A 'placebo reaction' or 'placebo effect' on the other hand is a stimulated medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or medical condition.

***taken from HERE

It is interesting to note that despite no 'real' drugs were used, patients do manifest in unpleasant, injurious, undesirable biochemical, physiological, behavioral, emotional and cognitive consequences. The 'nocebo effect' was identified during pharmaceutical trials. ****Subjects were observed to exhibit undesirable effects even though they were not given any medication except a placebo!

****taken from HERE

*****An interesting case to note is "Mr. A" who suffered from depression. His doctor Roy Reeves reported this case in 2007. He swallowed a whole bottle of pills and then regretted his decision on suicide. He rushed to the ER, collapsed at the reception, his BP plunged, and hyperventilated. All blood tests could show no trace of drugs in his system.

Finally, four hours later, another doctor informed Roy Reeves that 'Mr. A' had been in the placebo arms of a drug trial and he had overdosed on SUGAR TABLETS! 'Mr.A' soon recovered upon hearing the 'good news'.

*****taken from HERE

Bottom line is, our mind is a powerful tool/weapon indeed!

Click on Induced Illness to read more on nocebo effect.

Click on Media reports may trigger symptoms of a disease.

Click on The Thought That Could Kill You.