Discover the power behind the nocebo effect.
| The power of the nocebo effect |
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| NEW BOOK | | An investigation of the nocebo effect – the placebo effect’s evil twin. | | Learn more |
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Dear Reader,
The Nocebo Effectis the first book to investigate this fascinating phenomenon and offers strategies that clinicians and patients can adopt to reduce harmful outcomes.
“The nocebo effect” is a phenomenon best summarized as the occurrence of a harmful event that stems from consciously or subconsciously anticipating it. Consider "The June Bug" incident from a US textile factory in the early 1960s. Many employees began to feel dizzy, had an upset stomach, and vomited. Some were even hospitalized. The illness was attributed to a mysterious bug biting workers. However, when the CDC investigated this outbreak, no bugs or any other cause of the illnesses could be identified. Instead, it appears to be an illness caused by the mind -- that is, sickness due to expectation. |
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| “In this pioneering book, leading researchers show how words help shape our conscious experience of the world, which in turn directly affects our bodies and our health. The more we know, the more we can say ‘no’ to nocebos.” —John Bargh, Susan Nolen-Hoeksema Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science, Yale University, and author of Before You Know It: The Unconscious Reasons We Do What We Do |
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There are many other examples throughout history, and recent studies have documented the critical role of the nocebo effect in treatment side effects--such as with statins for high cholesterol, the higher incidence of complaints after negative media reports of certain medicines, and the mysterious illnesses associated with the Havana Syndrome, during which dozens of US government employees fell ill after reportedly being exposed to an unidentified sound wave in Cuba.
We are just discovering the power behind this effect, as explored in the groundbreaking work of a dozen top-level researchers. Order The Nocebo Effect today to learn about this phenomenon and what you can do to decrease its effects on you. | | Order now |
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Yours in good health,
Dan Harke, Publisher Mayo Clinic Press | | |
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