Mechanisms of placebo pain reduction: An empirical investigation

Author(s): Kirsch, I.

Journal/Book: Psychol Sci. 1996; 7: 40 West 20TH Street, New York, NY 10011-4211. Cambridge Univ Press. 174-176.

Abstract: Identical experimental pain stimuli were applied to the light ann left index fingers of 56 university students, following the application of a placebo in the guise of a topical anesthetic to one of the fingers. The pain stimuli were administered simultaneously to treated and untreated fingers for half of the subjects and sequentially for the others. Significant and equivalent reductions in pain were reported in both conditions as a function of placebo administration. These data indicate that reductions of experimental pain produced by placebos presented in the guise of local anesthetics are not mediated by such global mechanisms as anxiety reduction or the release of endogenous opioids.

Note: Article I Kirsch, Univ Connecticut, Dept Psychol, U-20, 406 Babbidge Rd, Storrs, CT 06269 USA

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