Preventing nocebo suggestions through mindfulness meditation

2017

The nocebo effect is a negative outcome resulting from the belief that a desired treatment has either not been received, or that a received treatment is harmful (Hurst, Foad & Beedie, 2015). This effect has been empirically demonstrated to have negative effects on sporting performance and physical endurance. Expectation has been the foremost mechanism in producing the nocebo response and manipulation through verbal suggestions is arguably the most powerful way to generate expectation (Carlino, Benedetti & Pollo, 2014). The purpose of the study was to investigate whether mindfulness practice can counteract the negative expectations given by potentially harmful nocebo effects, in this case ve…