Therapeutic interventions to maximize placebo and minimize nocebo effects

Basic research generates a lot of knowledge on how placebo and nocebo effects work. At IPS we strive to translate this knowledge into feasible and easy to apply clinical applications and therapeutic interventions for people with chronic medical complaints or health conditions. A running theme in our work is to test new interventions based on placebo and nocebo mechanisms, and to develop recommendations for the clinic, for instance on how to prevent nocebo effects.

Projects

Optimizing medication tapering using advanced placebo techniques

Placebo and nocebo effects are shaped by learning processes that influence treatment outcomes. By utilizing these effects, the tapering schedules of medication can be refined to reduce drug use while maintaining remission. The ReumaNL long-term Excellence project explores optimizing tapering of biological drugs using advanced placebo techniques, focusing on three key aspects of treatment: learning processes in doctors, patients and in the drugs to be tapered.

Pharmacological conditioning as an add-on treatment for recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis

In this project we create an add-on treatment based on pharmacological conditioning, that can be used to boost the effectiveness of standard treatments for recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis.

Pharmacological conditioning with S-ketamine for widespread pain in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

This project investigates whether pharmacological conditioning with S-ketamine is effective in reducing pain in patients with fibromyalgia.

Pharmacological conditioning of glucose and insulin in healthy individuals and patients with diabetes type 2

This project investigates whether pharmacological conditioning with insulin affects metabolic responses in healthy volunteers and patient with type-2 diabetes.

Pharmacological conditioning of a hormonal cream in patients with psoriasis

This project investigates the effects of pharmacological conditioning with a hormonal cream on the symptoms of psoriasis.

Other themes

Placebo and nocebo effect have been shown to affect a wide range of physical symptoms: pain, itch, breathlessness.

At IPS, we are dedicated to advancing the understanding of the brain mechanisms behind the placebo and nocebo effect.

Expectancies have been shown to affect not only self-reported outcomes, such as pain and itch, but also physiological markers such as endocrine and immune responses.

Research is often done with adult volunteers. This is also true for research on how placebo and nocebo effects influence medical conditions and symptoms, and wellbeing.

The words and the behaviour of a healthcare professional can determine much of a treatment’s success.

Therapeutic interventions to maximize placebo and minimize nocebo effects

Projects

Optimizing medication tapering using advanced placebo techniques

Pharmacological conditioning as an add-on treatment for recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis

Pharmacological conditioning with S-ketamine for widespread pain in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

Pharmacological conditioning of glucose and insulin in healthy individuals and patients with diabetes type 2

Pharmacological conditioning of a hormonal cream in patients with psoriasis

Other themes

Placebo and nocebo effects in physical symptoms

Placebo and nocebo effects in the brain

Placebo and nocebo effects in the immune and endocrine system

Placebo effects in children

Communication and clinical education about placebo and nocebo effects