Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Morton E. Tavel
Summary: The placebo effect refers to improvements in illnesses or subjective symptom reduction caused by interventions with no known physical effects, while the nocebo effect refers to undesirable symptoms or illnesses following interventions with no known physical effects, and it may play a role in chronic illnesses without objective confirmation. Both placebo and nocebo effects are powerful and must be understood by practitioners and researchers in clinical medicine. Individual caregivers can apply these principles to modify patient care outcomes.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Fabrizio Benedetti, Martina Amanzio, Fabio Giovannelli, Karen Craigs-Brackhahn, Aziz Shaibani
Summary: This study revealed that participants who read a list of possible adverse events before receiving a placebo treatment reported more adverse events compared to those who did not read the list. Moreover, increased activity in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and higher state anxiety scores were observed in those who reported multiple adverse events, indicating a potential neuroendocrine mechanism following placebo administration.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ratna Shree Sharma, Johannes Pallua, Michael Schirmer
Summary: This meta-analysis examines the occurrence of adverse events in the placebo arms of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies in rheumatoid arthritis. The results show that patients in the placebo arms reported adverse events such as nausea and hepatobiliary disorders at similar rates to those in the verum arms. It is important for patients to be aware that adverse events can still occur even with placebo medication.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Carina Schlintl, Anne Schienle
Summary: The study showed that written information can influence the occurrence of reported placebo/nocebo side effects. Additionally, information about the provider's optimistic personality was associated with a lower frequency of reported adverse side effects.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Juergen Barth, Stefanie Muff, Alexandra Kern, Anja Zieger, Stefanie Keiser, Marco Zoller, Thomas Rosemann, Benno Brinkhaus, Leonhard Held, Claudia M. Witt
Summary: A randomized clinical trial conducted in Switzerland among patients with chronic low back pain found that briefing on treatment outcomes and adverse side effects did not significantly affect patients' expectations and reported side effects after minimal acupuncture treatment. Further research is needed to understand the impact of information on adverse side effects.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ingmar Schaefer, Jan Hendrik Oltrogge, Yvonne Nestoriuc, Claire V. Warren, Stefanie Brassen, Maximilian Blattner, Dagmar Luehmann, Alexandra Tinnermann, Martin Scherer, Christian Buechel
Summary: Concerns about adverse effects can affect the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination. Research suggests that positive and negative expectations prior to vaccination are associated with systemic adverse effects. Understanding these associations can improve clinician-patient interactions and public vaccine campaigns.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
James P. Howard, Frances A. Wood, Judith A. Finegold, Alexandra N. Nowbar, David M. Thompson, Ahran D. Arnold, Christopher A. Rajkumar, Susan Connolly, Jaimini Cegla, Chris Stride, Peter Sever, Christine Norton, Simon A. M. Thom, Matthew J. Shun-Shin, Darrel P. Francis
Summary: The study found that the majority of symptoms caused by statin tablets were actually due to the placebo effect, suggesting that clinicians should be cautious when attributing symptoms to the medication. The research also indicated that there was no significant difference between abandoning statins and placebos, and the relief of symptoms after stopping medication was similar in both groups.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Sandy Simon, Katherine E. Francis, Janene E. Dalrymple, Val Gebski, Sarah J. Lord, Michael Friedlander, Chee Khoon Lee
Summary: Non-drug-related adverse events are common in ovarian cancer patients in maintenance therapy RCTs. Potential explanations include the nocebo effect, residual toxicities from previous treatment, or underlying disease.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Julia W. Haas, Friederike L. Bender, Sarah Ballou, John M. Kelley, Marcel Wilhelm, Franklin G. Miller, Winfried Rief, Ted J. Kaptchuk
Summary: This systematic review and meta-analysis found that significantly more adverse events (AEs) were reported in the vaccine groups compared with the placebo groups, but the rates of reported AEs in the placebo arms were still substantial. Public vaccination programs should take into account the high rates of AEs in placebo arms.
Review
Immunology
F. L. Bender, W. Rief, M. Wilhelm
Summary: This study investigated the solicited adverse events reported in placebo groups following seasonal influenza vaccination. The results showed significant effect sizes of proportions for solicited adverse events, indicating substantial nocebo responses after vaccination. This highlights the importance of addressing fear of side effects to reduce vaccine hesitancy.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Nina Zech, Leoni Scharl, Milena Seemann, Michael Pfeifer, Ernil Hansen
Summary: The effects of suggestions on respiratory muscle strength were evaluated in this study. The results showed that different suggestions had significant impacts on respiratory muscle strength, with expiratory force being more affected than inspiratory force. Women showed stronger reactions to the suggestions.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Christian P. Cheung, Mathura T. Thiyagarajah, Haben Y. Abraha, Celina S. Liu, Krista L. Lanctot, Alex J. Kiss, Mahwesh Saleem, Ari Juda, Anthony J. Levitt, Ayal Schaffer, Amy H. Cheung, Mark Sinyor
Summary: This study found that among patients receiving active treatment in antidepressant trials, drug-drug trials had lower rates of adverse events compared to other designs. However, there were no significant differences in adverse event rates across different designs for patients receiving placebo.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2021)
Article
Anesthesiology
Lingling Weng, Kaya J. Peerdeman, Delia Della Porta, Antoinette I. M. van Laarhoven, Andrea W. M. Evers
Summary: Placebo and nocebo effects can influence pain perception but may not have the same impact on itch. The study suggests that these effects may generalize within the pain modality but not across different sensory modalities.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yair Sharav, Yaron Haviv, Michael Tal
Summary: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of placebo and nocebo under hypnotic analgesia in lowly and highly hypnotizable subjects. Placebo and nocebo effects were studied through verbal expectation and conditioning in 12 lowly and 12 highly hypnotizable subjects under hypnosis. The results showed that placebo-produced analgesia differed significantly from nocebo-produced hyperalgesia in lowly hypnotizable subjects. However, no difference was detected between placebo and nocebo effects in highly hypnotizable subjects. The study suggests that combining placebo intervention with hypnotic analgesia can significantly improve pain relief regardless of hypnotic susceptibility.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Stefanie H. Meeuwis, Henriet van Middendorp, Dieuwke S. Veldhuijzen, Andrea W. M. Evers
Summary: Placebo and nocebo effects are mediated by expectation in an open-label context, but not in a closed-label context. Ignorance of bodily signals may moderate the direct effects of nocebo suggestions, and behavioral activation system may modulate the effects of suggestions on itch through expectation. Other interindividual differences showed limited impact on placebo and nocebo responding in itch.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Fernanda C. Gabriel, Manoela Oliveira, Michael Berk, Elisa Brietzke, Felice N. Jacka, Beny Lafer
Summary: This review aims to summarize the relationship between nutrition and bipolar disorder (BD). Findings suggest that the intake of unsaturated fatty acids, seafood, folic acid, and zinc is associated with improved BD symptoms. The impacts of creatine, carnitine, vitamin D, inositol, or NAC supplementation on BD are variable and mainly non-significant. Promising results are associated with Coenzyme Q10 (Coq10) and probiotics. Overall, dietetic approaches might be included as part of BD treatment, and individuals with BD should choose healthy dietary lifestyles.
NUTRITIONAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Elysha Ringin, David W. Dunstan, Roger S. McIntyre, Michael Berk, Neville Owen, Susan L. Rossell, Tamsyn E. Van Rheenen
Summary: Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent in bipolar disorder and is linked to cognitive deficits. This study explored the interaction between type 2 diabetes, bipolar disorder, and cognition, as well as the effect of age on cognitive performance in bipolar disorder with type 2 diabetes. The results showed that type 2 diabetes was associated with a negative impact on visuospatial memory in bipolar disorder. Processing speed and prospective memory were also negatively affected by type 2 diabetes, regardless of bipolar disorder diagnosis. Cognitive deficits were evident in bipolar disorder patients with type 2 diabetes compared to those without, and their cognitive performance remained stable or improved as they aged. In contrast, bipolar disorder patients without type 2 diabetes showed worse cognitive performance as they aged, but the age-related trajectory was similar to the psychiatrically healthy comparison group. The study suggests that comorbid type 2 diabetes may contribute to cognitive dysfunction in bipolar disorder, and bipolar disorder patients with type 2 diabetes may experience premature deterioration of cognitive functioning.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jacqueline Lake, Chiara C. Bortolasci, Amanda L. Stuart, Julie A. Pasco, Srisaiyini Kidnapillai, Briana Spolding, Trang T. T. Truong, Bruna Panizzutti, Zoe S. J. Liu, Olivia M. Dean, Tamsyn Crowley, Mark Richardson, Jee Hyun Kim, Michael Berk, Lana J. Williams, Ken Walder
Summary: This study utilized gene expression signature technology and pharmacoepidemiology to identify potential drugs for treating mood disorders. The results showed that metformin, an FDA-approved diabetes treatment, had transcriptional effects similar to commonly used mood disorder drugs, and retrospective cohort study found evidence of its protective effect against the onset of mood disorders. These findings demonstrate the potential of combining gene expression signature technology with pharmacoepidemiology to discover novel drugs for mood disorders.
PHARMACOPSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Jessica Emily Green, Michael Berk, Mohammadreza Mohebbi, Amy Loughman, Amelia J. McGuinness, David Castle, Mary Lou Chatterton, Joahna Perez, Philip Strandwitz, Eugene Athan, Christopher Hair, Andrew A. Nierenberg, John F. Cryan, Felice Jacka
Summary: This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a treatment for major depressive disorder. The results suggest that FMT is a feasible, acceptable, well-tolerated, and safe treatment for depression, supporting further research on its clinical efficacy.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE PSYCHIATRIE
(2023)
Review
Psychiatry
A. Ratheesh, D. Hett, J. Ramain, E. Wong, L. Berk, P. Conus, M. A. Fristad, T. Goldstein, M. Hillegers, S. Jauhar, L. Kessing, D. J. Miklowitz, G. Murray, J. Scott, M. Tohen, L. N. Yatham, A. H. Young, M. Berk, S. Marwaha
Summary: This systematic review examined the effectiveness of interventions in the early course of bipolar disorder (BD). The findings suggested that lithium use was associated with lower recurrence risk compared to other mood stabilizers, and mood stabilizers were associated with better global functioning compared to antipsychotics in the medium term. Psychological interventions, such as family-focused and cognitive-behavioral interventions, were associated with reduced recurrence risk or improved symptomatic outcomes. Pharmacological interventions were more efficacious when utilized in the earlier stages of illness.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIPOLAR DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Gregory Roebuck, Michael Mazzolini, Mohammadreza Mohebbi, Julie A. A. Pasco, Amanda L. L. Stuart, Malcolm Forbes, Michael Berk, Lana Williams
Summary: This study investigated the effect of anxiety disorders on bone mineral density (BMD) and found a significant association between anxiety disorders and reduced BMD in men, which may be mediated by comorbid mood disorders.
ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Monojit Debnath, Michael Berk
Summary: The neurodevelopmental origin of schizophrenia is influenced by parental exposure to environmental adversities and alterations in immune and stress-regulatory pathways. Maternal immune activation, induced by maternal infections, has been identified as a key pathway in the development of schizophrenia. However, the role of paternal immune activation and the underlying mechanisms are still not well understood. This article highlights the potential mechanisms linking paternal immune activation and the risk of schizophrenia and proposes the possibility of bi-parental immune priming as a risk mechanism. Understanding these mechanisms will have important implications for the etiology and prevention of schizophrenia.
MEDICAL HYPOTHESES
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Aswin Ratheesh, Dylan Hammond, Caroline Gao, Steven Marwaha, Andrew Thompson, Jessica Hartmann, Christopher Davey, Stanley Zammit, Michael Berk, Patrick McGorry, Barnaby Nelson
Summary: Establishing staging models with transdiagnostic validity can advance early intervention efforts and enhance understanding of common underpinnings of mood, psychotic, and anxiety disorders. However, there is a lack of well-supported operationalizations for such models, particularly in community-based samples. This study aimed to explore the inter-relationships among symptom stages and common risk factors to develop data-informed transdiagnostic stages. The findings suggest that anxiety, psychotic, and depressive symptoms could be combined to form a transdiagnostic stage, which can aid in prognostication and indicated prevention in youth mental health.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Kelly Allott, Hok Pan Yuen, Lara Baldwin, Brian O'Donoghue, Alex Fornito, Sidhant Chopra, Barnaby Nelson, Jessica Graham, Melissa J. J. Kerr, Tina-Marie Proffitt, Aswin Ratheesh, Mario Alvarez-Jimenez, Susy Harrigan, Ellie Brown, Andrew D. D. Thompson, Christos Pantelis, Michael Berk, Patrick D. D. McGorry, Shona M. M. Francey, Stephen J. J. Wood
Summary: The drivers of cognitive change following first-episode psychosis are not well understood. This study conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the role of antipsychotic medication on cognitive performance in patients with first-episode psychotic disorder. The results showed that the medication group exhibited decline in verbal learning and memory, while the placebo group showed improvement.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Review
Substance Abuse
Clara Lo, Mansee Mane, Jee Hyun Kim, Michael Berk, Richard R. Sharp, Kendall H. Lee, Jason Yuen
Summary: DBS as a treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) is being explored due to the limitations of current treatment modalities. Ethical concerns include informed consent and risks/benefits of DBS compared to traditional methods. Legal issues may arise from the criminalization of substance use and familial consent. Given the lack of clinical guidelines, general medico-legal principles should be considered for responsible use of DBS, and incorporating the IDEAL framework is recommended for future research.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Elysha Ringin, David W. Dunstan, Roger S. McIntyre, Neville Owen, Michael Berk, Susan L. Rossell, Mats Hallgren, Tamsyn E. Van Rheenen
Summary: This study examined the impact of physical activity and sedentary behavior on cognitive function in individuals with bipolar disorder. The results showed a negative association between physical activity and passive sedentary behavior with cognitive function, and a positive association between mentally-active sedentary behavior and cognitive function. These associations were stronger in individuals with bipolar disorder.
MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jacqueline Kaiser, Kevin Nay, Christopher R. Horne, Luke M. Mcaloon, Oliver K. Fuller, Abbey G. Muller, Douglas G. Whyte, Anthony R. Means, Ken Walder, Michael Berk, Anthony J. Hannan, James M. Murphy, Mark A. Febbraio, Andrew L. Gundlach, John W. Scott
Summary: Current pharmacological treatments for bipolar disorder are inadequate and lack revolutionary therapies due to limited efficacy, burdensome side-effects, and a poor understanding of the underlying disease mechanisms. Targeting the CaMKK2 enzyme shows promise as a new treatment strategy for bipolar disorder, as it is associated with the disease and its behaviors can be ameliorated by increasing CaMKK2 activity with lithium.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Melissa O'Shea, Emma E. Houston, David Skvarc, Hannah Capon, Shane Mclver, Michael Berk, Jill Harris, Belinda Chandler, Subhadra Evans
Summary: This study reports on a pragmatic preference trial with adults diagnosed with depression or anxiety, comparing the longer-term outcomes between those who completed a group CBT program and those who completed a group CBT program with an adjunct therapeutic yoga program. The findings show that participants in the combined CBT+Yoga group had sustained reductions in anxiety and depression, with significantly superior outcomes when compared to those receiving group CBT alone.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
R. Barnes, D. Skvarc, P. B. Fitzgerald, M. Berk, O. M. Dean, S. Dodd, T. Schriemer, A. B. Singh
Summary: This study compares the effects of once and twice daily rTMS treatment for depression, and finds similar remission rates between the two groups. However, twice daily treatment requires a shorter length of hospital stay, which has significant cost implications.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Ashlea Segal, Linden Parkes, Kevin Aquino, Andrew Zalesky, Ben J. Harrison, Jeggan Tiego, Murat Yucel, Leah Braganza, Chao Suo, Mark Bellgrove, Alex Fornito, Seyed Mostafa Kia, Thomas Wolfers, Barbara Franke, Martine Hoogman, Christian F. Beckmann, Lars T. Westlye, Ole A. Andreassen, Christopher Davey, Carles Soriano-Mas, Narcis Cardoner, Michael Berk, Sue Cotton, Andre F. Marquand
JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
