Negative Expectations May Have Stronger, Longer-Lasting Impact on Pain Than Positive Ones

Negative expectations may have a longer impact on pain perception than positive expectations or placebo effects, according to new research.

In a recent study, investigators found that the “nocebo effect,” when an individual has negative expectations, resulted in more intense pain when the patient expected worse outcomes compared with the placebo effect, which resulted in weaker outcomes for pain relief. 

The findings suggest that the brain may be wired to prioritize perceived