Belief in a therapy reduces pain

The belief in a therapy supports the treatment success

02/17/2011

A study by the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf showed that the belief in a therapy decisively supports the efficiency of administered drugs. On the other hand, whoever takes a critical attitude towards treatment can completely destroy the therapeutic goal. Despite the administration of highly potent agents, the pain remained almost unchanged, because the study participants knew nothing about the administration of the pain medication.

The science team focused on the efficacy of pain relieving drugs in the experimental setup. The researchers found that the patient's attitude to the mechanism of action of the administered analgesic plays a crucial role. Anyone who believes in the effect of the pain therapy, thus significantly increases the success of the treatment. On the other hand, whoever does not believe in the therapy and rather takes a critical stance reduces pain reduction.

Painkillers worked only through faith
The research team led by neurologist Ulrike Bingel from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) undertook a study with a total of 22 healthy volunteers. All participants volunteered for the experimental setup and were between 20 and 40 years old. The researchers inflicted pain on the participants and then tested the effects of a pain medication under different conditions. The participants were given a heat-pain stimulus for several seconds in multiple doses. The heat effect led either to moderate to severe pain. The average pain scale was 70 out of 100. During the heat overexcitation, some subjects were given a very strong analgesic with opioid (remifentanil) by infusion. Opioids are „similar to opium“ Medicines made from natural and synthetic substances that have morphine-like properties.

During the first round of the experiment, participants did not know they were being given analgesics by the infusion that had been given. The measured pain intensity decreased during the „secret“ Administered only slightly from 66 to 55. After the first experimental setup, the doctors informed the subjects that now for the first time a painkiller is administered, even though one was injected on the first pass. Suddenly the sensation of pain sank to 39.

In the third study round, the participants were told that now the pain medication is stopped. In fact, the same analgesic dose was administered without the subjects knowing anything about it. Despite the administration of the remedy, the pain value rose again to 64. Thus, the pain sensation was almost as high as before the analgesic infusion. „The negative expectation and the fear of the pain have completely destroyed the effect of the drug“, explained the neurology expert Bingel. It showed that the own expectation, which is attached to a treatment, strongly influences also the mechanism of action of the painkiller. If the test persons promised themselves much of the remedy, the pain also eased. If they took a negative attitude, the sensation of pain eased only slightly or not at all.

The body's own pain system is activated by faith
The observed effect was less subjective, since at the same time with the help of the magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) the pain processing in the special brain areas were analyzed. When participants were told that they were given a strong painkiller, this knowledge also activated the body's pain system. As a result, the effect of the agent was strengthened and the subject felt less pain.

Help for patients with chronic pain
Researchers now hope that the study results will be used to treat patients with chronic pain. Many patients suffer from chronic pain for years because they are desperate, anxious and have lost faith in medicine. „Now we know that even negative expectations of the therapy affect their success“, Study author Bingel explained. Now it is clear that even negative expectations the therapeutic success „of actually potent painkillers adversely affect“ can. (Sb)

Also read:
Faith in destiny helps to overcome grief
Placebo can increase your sense of sexuality
Acupuncture helps with pain
Gene increases chronic pain

Picture: Sigrid Rossmann