Nocebo effects in long-term health conditions: a systematic review of experimental studies (opens in new tab)

BackgroundThe nocebo effect refers to adverse symptoms triggered by negative expectations rather than active treatment mechanisms. These responses can undermine treatment adherence, increase symptom burden, and reduce clinical effectiveness. Patients with long-term conditions (LTCs) may be particularly vulnerable because they frequently interact with healthcare systems, monitor symptoms closely, and often have prior negative treatment experiences. Despite these important clinical implications...