Cited by 465Pain Management and Placebo EffectPain Mechanisms and TreatmentsTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies

Placebos and painkillers: is mind as real as matter?

Colloca, Luana, Benedetti, Fabrizio·2005·Nature Reviews Neuroscience

Abstract

Considerable progress has been made in our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms of the placebo effect, and most of our knowledge originates from the field of pain and analgesia. Today, the placebo effect represents a promising model that could allow us to shed new light on mind-body interactions. The mental events induced by placebo administration can activate mechanisms that are similar to those activated by drugs, which indicates a similarity between psychosocial and pharmacodynamic effects. These new neurobiological advances are already changing our conception of how clinical trials and medical practice must be viewed and conducted.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nrn1705

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111 of 111 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Placebo responses are associated with the release of dopamine and endogenous opioids, whereas nocebo responses are associated with the release of cholecystokinin.

    “Placebo and nocebo responses are also associated with different neurotransmitters; placebo responses are associated with the release of dopamine and endogenous opioids, whereas nocebo responses are associated with the release of cholecystokinin32–34.”

    From Boundary effects of expectation in human pain perception (2019) · cites this paper as [33]

  • Strong prospective links exist between early-life traumatic experiences and later development of chronic pain.

    “There are strong prospective links between early-life traumatic experiences and the subsequent development of chronic pain 23, 24, 66–69.”

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Authors
Colloca, L., & Benedetti, F.
Affiliations
University of Turin (IT)
Corresponding author
Benedetti, Fabrizio
Venue
Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Published
2005-07
Volume
6
Issue
7
Pages
545-552
ISSN
  • 1471-003X (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0048
OpenAlex
W2152161376
Cited by
465
References
111
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 23
FWCI
2.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature reviews. Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Institutional Research Information System University of Turin (University of Turin) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Ministero della Salute
  • Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Pain Management and Placebo Effect
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
Keywords
placebo effect, analgesia, mind-body problem, placebo analgesia, psychosocial impact, pharmacodynamics, neurobiological mechanisms, clinical trials, medical practice
MeSH terms
Analgesics, Animals, Humans, Mental Processes, Models, Biological, Pain, Placebos, Placebo Effect

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