What is the nocebo effect

The nocebo effect is the opposite of the placebo effect. While the placebo effect refers to a positive outcome or improvement in a person’s condition due to a belief in the effectiveness of a treatment or intervention, the nocebo effect involves a negative outcome or worsening of symptoms due to a negative expectation or belief. In other words, if a person expects a treatment to have negative side effects or believes that they will experience harm, they may actually experience those negative effects, even if the treatment itself is inert or harmless. This phenomenon highlights the powerful influence of psychological factors on physical well-being. The term “nocebo“ is derived from the Latin word “nocebo,“ which means “I will harm.“ The concept is closely related to the placebo effect and underscores the role of the mind in influencing the body’s response to treatments or situations. The mechanisms underlying the nocebo effect are not fully understood,