When researchers tell people a pain treatment will work but don't actually give them any real treatment, it seems to make their automatic pain reflex stronger, but doesn't change how much pain they report feeling or how their body reacts to pain.

40

Pro

0

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

40

Community contributions welcome

40

The Influence of Placebo Analgesia Manipulations on Pain Report, the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex, and Autonomic Responses to Pain.

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2018 Nov

The study tested people receiving expectation-only placebo treatment and found it increased their spinal pain reflex (NFR) but didn't change their reported pain levels or skin sweat response - exactly what the claim says.

Contradicting (0)

0

Community contributions welcome

No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

The Influence of Placebo Analgesia Manipulations on Pain Report, the Nociceptive Flexion Reflex, and Autonomic Responses to Pain.

Score: 40

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2018.04.012

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