Possessing an inhaled placebo analgesic oil enhanced physiological pain responses similar to inhaling the placebo analgesic oil

Research output: Other Conference ContributionsPresentation

Abstract

Purpose
Analgesic placebo research shows that people enjoy pain reduction after using a placebo analgesic. The recently emerged possession-based placebo studies document that sometimes possessing a placebo analgesic induces placebo analgesia (Yeung et al., 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022). These prior studies proposed that expectancy of obtaining benefit from the owned analgesic is the underlying mechanism of the possession-based placebo effect. We aim to examine whether (1) possessing a placebo analgesic oil is as effective as using it; (2) expectancy is the underlying mechanism of possession-based placebo analgesia.

Method
Healthy participants (N=119) learned that a blended essential oil (in fact, placebo oil) can effectively block pain upon nasal inhalation. They were randomized to either the PU (Possess & Use), PA (Possess & Anticipate its benefit), P (Possess only), or A (Anticipate only) condition. Participants did a cold-pressor-test to experimentally induce pain to their non-dominant hand. Their physiological pain responses (pain threshold and tolerance) and psychological pain perception (pain intensity, severity, quality, unpleasantness) were recorded. Comparing data of PU and PA conditions allows us to examine the effect of use, while comparing data of PA and P (A) conditions enables us to investigate the effect of expectancy (possession).

Results
Both PA and PU groups performed equally well (use=possess + anticipate) and reported having greater pain threshold than P and A groups, F(3, 115)=5.14, p=.002, ηp²=.12. No significant group differences in psychological pain perception.

Conclusion
A placebo effect can be achieved without using a placebo, by inducing a positive expectancy upon placebo possession.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 26 Aug 2023
EventThe 17th International Congress of Behavioral Medicine : From Local to Global : Behavior, Climate and Health - Vancouver, Canada
Duration: 23 Aug 202326 Aug 2023

Conference

ConferenceThe 17th International Congress of Behavioral Medicine : From Local to Global : Behavior, Climate and Health
Abbreviated titleICBM 2023
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityVancouver
Period23/08/2326/08/23

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