Klappentext

Placebo Effects in Neurology delves into the intriguing phenomenon of placebos and their profound impact on neurological disorders. This book explores how placebo effects, occurring both in clinical trials and real-world practice, influence therapeutic outcomes, doctor-patient relationships, and symptom perception. The content provides insights into psychobiological mechanisms and specific conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and migraine while addressing ethical and methodological concerns. With discussions on both deceptive and open-label placebos, the book invites readers to reconsider the potential of this underappreciated tool in neurology, offering a bridge between scientific research and practical application in the treatment of various conditions.

Beyond its focus on placebo mechanisms, the book examines their role in alleviating symptoms of neuropathic pain, peripheral neuropathies, fatigue, and neuropsychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety. It also presents a methodological lens on how placebos are used to validate treatments in trials while debating their ethical implications. By weaving together science, ethics, and practical insights, Placebo Effects in Neurology stands out as a compelling resource for clinicians, researchers, and anyone interested in the nuanced intersection of psychology and neurology.

Inhalt

Section I. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. A brief history of placebo
2. Placebo effects and emotion regulation: Conceptual and neural similarities and differences
3. Understanding the psychology of the nocebo effect
4. Open-label nondeceptive placebos
5. Social aspects
6. Age and gender
7. Conditioned Immune Responses and the neural-immune connection in animals and humans
8. The Role of Mindsets in Placebo Effects and Healthcare

9. The Placebome

   Section II. SPECIFIC NEUROLOGIC CONDITIONS

10. Pain
11. The motor system and motor disorders
12. Peripheral neuropathies
13. Placebo and Nocebo Effects in Headaches
14. Placebo Effects in Mental Disorders
15. Miscellaneous neurological conditions with a few or no available data
16. Hypoxia
17. The Placebo Effect in Psychotherapy
18. Interventional procedures and physical therapies

19. The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Special Case of Placebo and Nocebo Effects

    Section III. METHODOLOGICAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES

20. Minimizing placebo effects in clinical trials
21. Ethical considerations with using placebo treatments and effects in clinical practice
22. Placebo and the doctor-patient interaction and communication