Nocebo effects on informed consent within medical and psychological settings: A scoping review

Nadine S. J. Stirling, Victoria M. E. Bridgland, Melanie K. T. Takarangi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Warning research participants and patients about potential risks associated with participation/treatment is a fundamental part of consent. However, such risk warnings might cause negative expectations and subsequent nocebo effects (i.e., negative expectations cause negative outcomes) in participants. Because no existing review documents how past research has quantitatively examined nocebo effects–and negative expectations–arising from consent risk warnings, we conducted a pre-registered scoping review (N = 9). We identified several methodological issues across these studies, which in addition to mixed findings, limit conclusions about whether risk warnings cause nocebo effects.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)387-412
Number of pages26
JournalEthics and Behavior
Volume33
Issue number5
Early online date8 Jun 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • ethics
  • Informed consent
  • negative expectations
  • nocebo effects

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