The Nocebo Effect

I recently came across a reference to a phenomenon that got my interest. It is termed the Nocebo Effect. The reference was in a story of a patient who was erroneously informed that he had terminal liver cancer. The patient died, and the subsequent autopsy revealed that there was no cancer. (link to the story omitted due to a "subscribe to read the whole story")

I think that a big reason for my interest lies in my recent reflection on the power of the mind in programming behavior. The fact that the Matrix was on TV tonight didn't hurt much either. I have heard a lot of talk in the past few months about the value of affirmations. I have seen in my own practice how daily reading of a desired set of behaviors can have a positive effect.

Years ago I read about a study of patients' reactions to being informed of terminal illness. I recall the study grouped the patients into three broad groups. One group basically gave up, one group accepted their fate, and the third group basically dug in their heels and fought. I don't recall all of the statistics that were mentioned, but I believe the third group had around a 75% survival rate. The other two groups didn't fare anywhere near as well. The mind is a powerful thing.