Affiliations: Institut für Medizinische Psychologie und
Verhaltensimmunbiologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen | Arbeitsgruppe Klinische Psychologie und
Psychotherapie, Universität Marburg, Gutenbergstraße 18, 35032 Marburg | Abteilung für Psychosomatische Medizin und
Psychotherapie, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen
Note: [] Korrespondenzadresse: Prof. Dr. M. Schedlowski, Institut
für Medizinische Psychologie und Verhaltensimmunbiologie,
Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstraße 55 D-45122 Essen. Tel.:
0201 723 4500/4501; Fax.: 0201 723 5948; E-mail: manfred.schedlowski@uk-essen.de
Abstract: The latest scientific evidence has demonstrated, that the placebo
and the nocebo effect stem from highly active processes in the brain that are
mediated by psychological mechanisms such as expectation and conditioning.
These processes have been described in some detail for many diseases and
treatments, and we now know that they can represent both strength and
vulnerability in the course of a disease as well as in the response to a
therapy. A better understanding of the neurobiology of the placebo and nocebo
responses will form the basis for designing behavioral protocols that can be
employed as supportive therapy together with standard pharmacological regimen,
the aim being to maximize the therapeutic outcome for the patient's
benefit. The further development of these research activities are not only a
great challenge but also a great chance for the behavioral sciences in medicine.
