When the fear leads to real complaints

Media reports on health risks can trigger anxiety and real discomfort

08/05/2013

Again and again media reports on dangerous substances or harmful radiation. In some people, this not only triggers anxiety but also real discomfort. The so-called nocebo effect was investigated by a German researcher during a research stay in England. His conclusion: "Science and the media should work together more closely and report on topics such as health hazards as truthfully as possible".

Just the expectation of damage can cause anxiety and real discomfort
Countless reports of deadly viruses, rare deadly diseases and harmful electrosmog haunt the media. Although many lack a scientific basis, the sometimes very lurid reports trigger fears. In some people, the fear even goes so far as to cause real discomfort. Experts speak of the so-called nocebo effect, which has the opposite effect as the placebo effect. While in the latter positive effects occur despite drug-free drugs, people with nocebo effect suffer from disease symptoms, although no actual health risk is present. For example, media reports on mobile phone radiation alone are enough to provoke complaints such as headaches and nausea.

The German scientist Michael Witthöft from the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz studied the phenomenon of electromagnetic hypersensitivity together with his colleague G. James Rubin during a research stay at London's King's College. Using magnetic resonance imaging, the researchers were able to recognize that "the pain-processing regions in the brain were actually activated by those affected, even though no real radiation was present". Witthöft and Rubin came to the conclusion that "only the expectation of injury can cause pain and other discomfort".

Subjects with real complaints although in fact no risks were present
During the investigation, a report was presented to a group of 147 subjects, reporting on the health risks of wireless and cellular signals. The other group saw a report on the security of Internet and mobile phone data. Thereafter, all subjects were pretended to be exposed to a WLAN signal for 15 minutes. 54 percent of the subjects then reported complaints such as anxiety, difficulty concentrating and anxiety. Especially the subjects who had previously seen the report on the health risks of WLAN signals, most often showed symptoms. In two subjects, the test had even stopped, although in fact no radiation was present.

The tests showed that those affected could not distinguish, „whether they are actually exposed to electromagnetic fields and that their symptoms can be triggered just as much by sham exposure as by real radiation“, reports Witthöft.

The study by Witthöft and Rubin has shown how lurid media reports affect many people. The mere suggestion of health dangers is sufficient to cause real symptoms in some people. Witthöft therefore calls for closer cooperation between scientists and media makers. Reports on health risks would need to be truthful and truthful „to the best of our knowledge ".

The nocebo effect was first observed in drug studies in which the subjects experienced side effects despite receiving placebo. (Ag)