Neurobiology of the Placebo Effect, Part I

Neurobiology of the Placebo Effect, Part I, Volume 138 in the International Review of Neurobiology series, is the first of two volumes that provide the latest placebo studies in clinically relevant models. Placebo responses effects are not merely a psychological, but a complex psycho-neuro-biological process that requires activation of distinct brain areas. This book discusses current research and projects on the involved brain circuitry and neurotransmitter systems. Specific chapters cover such topics as pharmacological conditioning of the endocrine and immune system, expectancy modulation of opioid neurotransmission, nocebo effects in visceral pain, and conditioning as a higher-order cognitive phenomenon, amongst other topics.

1. Placebo Analgesia in Rodents: Current and Future Research Asaf Keller, Titilola Akintola and Luana Colloca 2. Expectancy Modulation of Opioid Neurotransmission Marta Pecina and Jon-Kar Zubieta 3. Placebo Effects in the Immune System Martin Hadamitzky, Wiebke Sondermann, Sven Benson and Manfred Schedlowski 4. Human Pharmacological Conditioning of the Immune and Endocrine System: Challenges and Opportunities J. Tekampe, H. van Middendorp, F.C.G.J. Sweep, S.H.P.P. Roerink, A.R.M.M. Hermus and A.W.M. Evers 5. Response Expectancy and the Placebo Effect Irving Kirsch 6. A Functional-Cognitive Perspective on the Relation Between Conditioning and Placebo Research Jan De Houwer 7. The Application of Persuasion Theory to Placebo Effects Andrew L. Geers, Pablo Briñol, Erin A. Vogel, Olivia Aspiras, Fawn C. Caplandies and Richard E. Petty 8. Mindsets Matter: A New Framework for Harnessing the Placebo Effect in Modern Medicine  Sean R. Zion and Alia Crum 9. The Role of Social and Interpersonal Factors in Placebo Analgesia Elizabeth A. Necka and Lauren Y. Atlas 10. What Is Minimally Required to Elicit Placebo Effects? Karin B. Jensen 11. Critical Life Functions: Can Placebo Replace Oxygen? Fabrizio Benedetti, Diletta Barbiani and Eleonora Camerone 12. Placebos Without Deception: Outcomes, Mechanisms, and Ethics Luana Colloca and Jeremy Howick 13. Placebo and Psychotherapy: Differences, Similarities, and Implications Jens Gaab, Cosima Locher and Charlotte Blease 14. Expectation Focused Psychotherapy to Improve Clinical Outcomes Bettina K. Doering, Julia A. Glombiewski and Winfried Rief 15. Nocebo Effects: Neurobiological Mechanisms and Strategies for Prevention and Optimizing Treatment Julian Kleine-Borgmann and Ulrike Bingel 16. Nocebo Effects and Experimental Models in Visceral Pain Sigrid Elsenbruch and Franziska Labrenz 17. Using Learning Strategies to Inhibit the Nocebo Effect Veronica F. Quinn and Ben Colagiuri 18. Can Knowledge of Placebo and Nocebo Mechanisms Help Improve Randomized Clinical Trials ? Elisa Carlino and Lene Vase