Nocebo hyperalgesia: contributions of social observation and body-related cognitive styles published by Dove Medical Press

     

The Journal of Pain Research has published the original research “Nocebo hyperalgesia: contributions of social observation and body-related cognitive styles”.

Recently, it has been shown that Nocebo hyperalgesia can be acquired through observational learning. The aim of this study was to investigate socially induced nocebo hyperalgesia and its relationship with pain catastrophizing, somatic complaints, hypochondriacal concerns and empathy

As corresponding author Elisabeth Vögtle says “This study shows that the observation of a person in pain alone can lead to nocebo hyperalgesia in the observer. Moreover, the unexplained administration of an intervention can lead to an elevated pain experience. This should be taken into account in medical practice and research. The nocebo hyperalgesia did not depend on variables like pain catastrophizing, somatic complaints, hypochondriacal concerns or empathy with the observed person.”

As Dr. Michael Schatman, Editor-in-Chief, explains “This study is noteworthy in its contribution to the poorly understood concept of nocebo hyperalgesia.”

The Journal of Pain Research an international, peer-reviewed, open access, online journal that welcomes laboratory and clinical findings in the fields of pain research and the prevention and management of pain. Original research, reviews, symposium reports, hypothesis formation and commentaries are all considered for publication.

Dove Medical Press Ltd is a privately held company specializing in the publication of Open Access peer-reviewed journals across the broad spectrum of science, technology and especially medicine.

Updated 26 April 2016