Development of the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS): A tool for measuring patient outcome expectancy in clinical trials

Younger, Jarred; Gandhi, Vanisha; Hubbard, Emily; Mackey, Sean

doi:10.1177/1740774512465064

Cited by 212Pain Management and Placebo EffectStatistical Methods in Clinical TrialsPsychotherapy Techniques and Applications

Development of the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS): A tool for measuring patient outcome expectancy in clinical trials

Younger, Jarred, Gandhi, Vanisha, Hubbard, Emily, Mackey, Sean·2012·Clinical Trials

DOI 10.1177/1740774512465064

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

Background: A patient’s response to treatment may be influenced by the expectations that the patient has before initiating treatment. In the context of clinical trials, the influence of participant expectancy may blur the distinction between real and sham treatments, reducing statistical power to detect specific treatment effects. There is therefore a need for a tool that prospectively predicts expectancy effects on treatment outcomes across a wide range of treatment modalities. Purpose: To help assess expectancy effects, we created the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS): an instrument for measuring positive and negative treatment expectancies. Internal reliability of the instrument was tested in Study 1. Criterion validity of the instrument (convergent, discriminant, and predictive) was assessed in Studies 2 and 3. Methods: The instrument was developed using 200 participants in Study 1. Reliability and validity assessments were made with an additional 423 participants in Studies 2 and 3. Results: The final six-item SETS contains two subscales: positive expectancy (α = 0.81–0.88) and negative expectancy (α = 0.81–0.86). The subscales predict a significant amount of outcome variance (between 12% and 18%) in patients receiving surgical and pain interventions. The SETS is simple to administer, score, and interpret. Conclusion: The SETS may be used in clinical trials to improve statistical sensitivity for detecting treatment differences or in clinical settings to identify patients with poor treatment expectancies.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1177/1740774512465064

Cites

70 of 70 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

This paper’s full text isn’t openly available, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Participants' expectancy will be assessed with the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale at baseline.
“Participants’ expectancy will be assessed with the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS; [114]) at baseline”
From Psilocybin-assisted therapy for severe alcohol use disorder: protocol for a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, 7-month parallel-group phase II superiority trial (2024) · cites this paper as [114]
The open-label design and small sample size mean secondary outcome results must be interpreted in the context of baseline treatment expectancy.
“Secondary outcomes showed promising signs, although the openlabel design and small sample size means that the results must be interpreted in the context of treatment expectancy at baseline, in which positive effects were higher than average and negative effects were lower than average [41].”
From Psilocybin‐assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder: A pilot open‐label safety and feasibility study. (2025) · cites this paper as [41]
Valid measures of response expectancies include the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS) and the credibility/expectancy questionnaire (CEQ).
“Valid measures of response expectancies include the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS), 87 and the credibility/expectancy questionnaire (CEQ). 88”
From Best Practice Recommendations for Conducting and Reporting Controlled Trials in Clinical Hypnosis Research (2024) · cites this paper as [87]

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
Zigmond, A. S., & Snaith, R. P. (1983) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x · Cited by 47,139 · see citing works
Research in Organizational Behavior.
Grimes, A. J., Cummings, L. L., & Staw, B. M. (1986) · Administrative Science Quarterly · doi:10.2307/2392975 · Cited by 11,303 · see citing works
Untitled work
(1976) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 8,899 · see citing works
Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism (and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem): A reevaluation of the Life Orientation Test.
Scheier, M. F., Carver, C. S., & Bridges, M. W. (1994) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.67.6.1063 · Cited by 7,456 · see citing works
Clinical importance of changes in chronic pain intensity measured on an 11-point numerical pain rating scale
Farrar, J. T., Young, J. P., LaMoreaux, L., Werth, J. L., & Poole, M. R. (2001) · Pain · doi:10.1016/s0304-3959(01)00349-9 · Cited by 5,808 · see citing works
Core outcome measures for chronic pain clinical trials: IMMPACT recommendations
Dworkin, R. H., Turk, D. C., Farrar, J. T., Haythornthwaite, J. A., Jensen, M. P., Katz, N. P., Kerns, R. D., Stucki, G., Allen, R. R., Bellamy, N., et al. (2005) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2004.09.012 · Cited by 3,732 · see citing works
Core outcome domains for chronic pain clinical trials: IMMPACT recommendations
Turk, D. C., Dworkin, R. H., Allen, R. R., Bellamy, N., Brandenburg, N., Carr, D. B., Cleeland, C., Dionne, R., Farrar, J. T., Galer, B. S., et al. (2003) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2003.08.001 · Cited by 3,510 · see citing works
Psychometric properties of the credibility/expectancy questionnaire
Devilly, G. J., & Borkovec, T. D. (2000) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0005-7916(00)00012-4 · Cited by 2,295 · cited 1× · see citing works
“While the instrument has shown success in predicting some outcome variables [33], it is not clear that the instrument (particularly the credibility subscale) is a useful tool for predicting treatment response [34].”
Method
ECDEU Assessment Manual: (591322011-001)
Guy, W. (1976) · PsycEXTRA Dataset · doi:10.1037/e591322011-001 · Cited by 1,896 · see citing works
Credibility of analogue therapy rationales
Borkovec, T. D., & Nau, S. D. (1972) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/0005-7916(72)90045-6 · Cited by 1,553 · see citing works
Dispositional optimism and recovery from coronary artery bypass surgery: The beneficial effects on physical and psychological well-being.
Scheier, M. F., Matthews, K. A., Owens, J. F., Magovern, G. J., Lefebvre, R. C., Abbott, R. A., & Carver, C. S. (1989) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.57.6.1024 · Cited by 1,023 · see citing works
Response expectancy as a determinant of experience and behavior.
Kirsch, I. (1985) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.40.11.1189 · Cited by 974 · see citing works
Nonspecific medication side effects and the nocebo phenomenon
Barsky, A. J. (2002) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.287.5.622 · Cited by 784 · see citing works
Dispositional optimism and recovery from coronary artery bypass surgery: The beneficial effects on physical and psychological well-being.
Scheier, M. F., Matthews, K. A., Owens, J. F., et al. (1989) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1024 · Cited by 721 · see citing works
The Placebo Effect: Dissolving the Expectancy Versus Conditioning Debate.
Stewart‐Williams, S., & Podd, J. (2004) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.130.2.324 · Cited by 664 · see citing works
How expectancies shape experience.
(1999) · doi:10.1037/10332-000 · Cited by 639 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Response expectancy theory posits that what people experience is strongly shaped by what they expect to experience [2,58].”
Background
An analysis of factors that contribute to the magnitude of placebo analgesia in an experimental paradigm
Price, D. D., Milling, L. S., Kirsch, I., Duff, A., Montgomery, G. H., & Nicholls, S. S. (1999) · Pain · doi:10.1016/s0304-3959(99)00081-0 · Cited by 559 · see citing works
Getting the pain you expect: mechanisms of placebo, nocebo and reappraisal effects in humans
Tracey, I. (2010) · Nature Medicine · doi:10.1038/nm.2229 · Cited by 553 · see citing works
The impact of patient expectations on outcomes in four randomized controlled trials of acupuncture in patients with chronic pain
Linde, K., Witt, C. M., Streng, A., Weidenhammer, W., Wagenpfeil, S., Brinkhaus, B., Willich, S. N., & Melchart, D. (2007) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2006.12.006 · Cited by 548 · see citing works
Capturing the patient's view of change as a clinical outcome measure.
Fischer, D., Stewart, A., Bloch, D., Lorig, K., Laurent, D. D., & Holman, H. (1999) · Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) · doi:10.1001/jama.282.12.1157 · Cited by 501 · see citing works
Response expectancies in placebo analgesia and their clinical relevance
Pollo, A., Amanzio, M., Arslanian, A., Casadio, C., Maggi, G., & Benedetti, F. (2001) · Pain · doi:10.1016/s0304-3959(01)00296-2 · Cited by 442 · see citing works
The Nocebo Effect and Its Relevance for Clinical Practice
Colloca, L., & Miller, F. G. (2011) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/psy.0b013e3182294a50 · Cited by 431 · see citing works
Effects of Perceived Treatment on Quality of Life and Medical Outcomesin a Double-blind Placebo Surgery Trial
McRae, C., Cherin, E. A., Yamazaki, T. G., Diem, G., Vo, A. H., Russell, D. W., Ellgring, J. H., Fahn, S., Greene, P. E., Dillon, S., et al. (2004) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.61.4.412 · Cited by 278 · see citing works
Impact of internet use on health-related behaviors and the patient-physician relationship: a survey-based study and review.
Iverson, S. A., Howard, K., & Penney, B. K. (2008) · PubMed · Cited by 274 · see citing works
A systematic review of adverse events in placebo groups of anti-migraine clinical trials
Amanzio, M., Corazzini, L. L., Vase, L., & Benedetti, F. (2009) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2009.07.010 · Cited by 232 · see citing works
Predictors of Response to Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy for Social Phobia
Chambless, D. L., Tran, G. Q., & Glass, C. R. (1997) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/s0887-6185(97)00008-x · Cited by 228 · see citing works
Scales for assessing perceptions of health hazard susceptibility
Diefenbach, M. A., Weinstein, N. D., & O'Reilly, J. M. (1993) · Health Education Research · doi:10.1093/her/8.2.181 · Cited by 227 · see citing works
Nocebo-Induced Hyperalgesia During Local Anesthetic Injection
Varelmann, D. J., Pancaro, C., Cappiello, E. C., & Camann, W. (2010) · Anesthesia & Analgesia · doi:10.1213/ane.0b013e3181cc5727 · Cited by 227 · see citing works
Anticipatory nausea and vomiting
Aapro, M., Molassiotis, A., & Olver, I. (2004) · Supportive Care in Cancer · doi:10.1007/s00520-004-0745-8 · Cited by 215 · see citing works
Treatment Expectancy Affects the Outcome of Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions in Chronic Pain
Goossens, M. E. J. B., Vlaeyen, J. W. S., Hidding, A., Kole-Snijders, A., & Evers, S. M. A. A. (2005) · The Clinical Journal of Pain · doi:10.1097/00002508-200501000-00003 · Cited by 213 · see citing works
The role of presurgical expectancies in predicting pain and function one year following total knee arthroplasty
Sullivan, M. J. L., Tänzer, M., Reardon, G., Amirault, D., Dunbar, M., & Stanish, W. D. (2011) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2011.06.014 · Cited by 208 · see citing works
Reproducibility of placebo analgesia: Effect of dispositional optimism
Morton, D. L., Watson, A., El-Deredy, W., & Jones, A. K. P. (2009) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2009.07.026 · Cited by 190 · see citing works
Dispositional Optimism Predicts Placebo Analgesia
Geers, A. L., Wellman, J. A., Fowler, S. L., Helfer, S. G., & France, C. R. (2010) · Journal of Pain · doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2010.02.014 · Cited by 186 · see citing works
Induction of nocebo and placebo effects on itch and pain by verbal suggestions
van Laarhoven, A. I. M., Vogelaar, M. L., Wilder‐Smith, O. H. G., van Riel, P. L. C. M., van de Kerkhof, P. C. M., Kraaimaat, F. W., & Evers, A. W. M. (2011) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2011.01.043 · Cited by 176 · see citing works
Expectations for Recovery Important in the Prognosis of Whiplash Injuries
Holm, L. W., Carroll, L., Cassidy, J. D., Skillgate, E., & Ahlbom, A. (2008) · PLoS Medicine · doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0050105 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
Efficacy of antidepressants: a re-analysis and re-interpretation of the Kirsch data
Fountoulakis, K. Ν., & Möller, H. (2010) · The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1017/s1461145710000957 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Placebo and nocebo effects in randomized double‐blind clinical trials of agents for the therapy for fatigue in patients with advanced cancer
de la Cruz, M., Hui, D., Parsons, H. A., & Bruera, E. D. (2009) · Cancer · doi:10.1002/cncr.24751 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Harnessing the placebo effect: the need for translational research
Colloca, L., & Miller, F. G. (2011) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2010.0399 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
Systematic review: Placebo response in drug trials of fibromyalgia syndrome and painful peripheral diabetic neuropathy—magnitude and patient-related predictors
Häuser, W., Bartram-Wunn, E., Bartram, C., Reinecke, H., & Tölle, T. R. (2011) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2011.01.050 · Cited by 124 · see citing works
Participant expectancies in double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials: potential limitations to trial validity
Colagiuri, B. (2010) · Clinical Trials · doi:10.1177/1740774510367916 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Conditioning, Expectancy, and the Placebo Effect: Comment on Stewart-Williams and Podd (2004).
Kirsch, I. (2004) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.130.2.341 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
The role of treatment expectancy in youth receiving exposure-based CBT for obsessive compulsive disorder
Lewin, A. B., Peris, T. S., Bergman, R. L., McCracken, J. T., & Piacentini, J. C. (2011) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2011.06.001 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Can the Placebo Be the Cure?
Enserink, M. (1999) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.284.5412.238 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
A meta-analytic approach to estimating nocebo effects in neuropathic pain trials
Papadopoulos, D., & Mitsikostas, D. D. (2011) · Journal of Neurology · doi:10.1007/s00415-011-6197-4 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Patient expectation is a strong predictor of severe nausea after chemotherapy
Roscoe, J., Bushunow, P., Morrow, G. R., Hickok, J. T., Kuebler, P., Jacobs, A., & Banerjee, T. (2004) · Cancer · doi:10.1002/cncr.20718 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
Expectancy effect: Impact of pill administration on cognitive performance in healthy seniors
Oken, B., Flegal, K. E., Zajdel, D. P., Kishiyama, S. S., Haas, M., & Peters, D. (2007) · Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology · doi:10.1080/13803390701775428 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Evaluation of performance of some enrichment designs dealing with high placebo response in psychiatric clinical trials
Chen, Y., Yang, Y., Hung, H., & Wang, S. (2011) · Contemporary Clinical Trials · doi:10.1016/j.cct.2011.04.006 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Prediction of post‐operative pain after a laparoscopic tubal ligation procedure
Rudin, A. Y., Wölner‐Hanssen, P., Hellbom, M., & Werner, M. U. (2008) · Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/j.1399-6576.2008.01641.x · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Patients' pretreatment expectations of chemotherapy-related nausea are an independent predictor of anticipatory nausea
Montgomery, G. H., Tomoyasu, N., Bovbjerg, D. H., Andrykowski, M. A., Currie, V. E., Jacobsen, P. B., & Redd, W. H. (1998) · Annals of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/bf02884456 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Uncovering the expectancy effect: the validation of the acupuncture expectancy scale.
Mao, J. J. J., Xie, S. X., & Bowman, M. A. (2010) · PubMed · Cited by 64 · see citing works
The toxic placebo. I. Side and toxic effects reported during the administration of placebo medicine.
Rc, P. (1963) · PubMed · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Optimality, sample size, and power calculations for the sequential parallel comparison design
Ivanova, A., Qaqish, B. F., & Schoenfeld, D. (2011) · Statistics in Medicine · doi:10.1002/sim.4292 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Motivational concordance: An important mechanism in self-help therapeutic rituals involving inert (placebo) substances
Hyland, M. E., & Whalley, B. (2008) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2008.02.006 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Combined anxiety and depressive symptoms before diagnosis of breast cancer
Esch, L. V., Roukema, J. A., Ernst, M. F., Nieuwenhuijzen, G. A. P., & Vries, J. D. (2011) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2011.09.012 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Participant Expectancies in Psychotherapy
Goldstein, A. P. (1962) · Psychiatry · doi:10.1080/00332747.1962.11023298 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Psychological factors predicting nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients on chemotherapy
Watson, M., Meyer, L., Thomson, A., & Osofsky, S. (1998) · European Journal of Cancer · doi:10.1016/s0959-8049(97)10146-0 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Specific response expectancies predict anticipatory nausea during chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Montgomery, G. H., & Bovbjerg, D. H. (2001) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-006x.69.5.831 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Expectancy priming of smoking cessation messages enhances the placebo effect of tailored interventions.
Webb, M. S., Hendricks, P. S., & Brandon, T. H. (2007) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/0278-6133.26.5.598 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
An Exploratory Study on the Effects of an Expectancy Manipulation on Chemotherapy-Related Nausea
Roscoe, J. A., O‘Neill, M. F., Jean‐Pierre, P., Heckler, C. E., Kaptchuk, T. J., Bushunow, P. W., Shayne, M., Huston, A. J., Qazi, R., & Smith, B. D. (2010) · Journal of Pain and Symptom Management · doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2009.12.024 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
The Internet and primary care physicians: coping with different expectations
van Woerkum, C. M. J. (2003) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/77.4.1016s · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Assessment of Beliefs in the Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Treatment of Psychiatric Symptoms
Dennehy, E. B., Webb, A. J., & Suppes, T. M. (2002) · The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine · doi:10.1089/107555302760253612 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Specific response expectancies predict anticipatory nausea during chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Montgomery, G. H., & Bovbjerg, D. H. (2001) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.69.5.831 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Nonspecific mechanisms that enhance well-being in health-promoting behaviors
Gaitan-Sierra, C., & Hyland, M. E. (2011) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0025582 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Understanding the Placebo Effect: Part 2: Underlying Psychological & Neurobiological Processes
Howland, R. H. (2008) · Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services · doi:10.3928/02793695-20080601-05 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Do we Need a New Procedure for the Assessment of Adverse Events in Anti-migraine Clinical Trials?
Amanzio, M. (2010) · Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery · doi:10.2174/157488911794079109 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Assessment of the Quality of Postherpetic Neuralgia Treatment Information on the Internet
Hallingbye, T., & Serafini, M. (2011) · Journal of Pain · doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2011.05.005 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Trait Anxiety Predicts Outcome 6 Weeks After Cholecystectomy. A Prospective Follow-Up Study
Mertens, M. C., Roukema, J. A., Scholtes, V. P. W., & Vries, J. D. (2010) · Annals of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s12160-010-9245-x · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Traditional Chinese Acupuncture was not superior to sham acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis but delivering treatment with high expectations of improvement was superior to delivering treatment with neutral expectations
Grotle, M. (2011) · Journal of physiotherapy · doi:10.1016/s1836-9553(11)70009-1 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
A new perspective on “the placebo effect”: Untangling the entanglement
Manek, N. J., & Tiller, W. A. (2011) · Medical Hypotheses · doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2011.06.047 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
The relation between motivational concordance and response expectancy
Kelley, J. M. (2008) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2008.05.001 · Cited by 2 · see citing works

Flagged first, then by citations

Sorted by citations

Patient phenotyping in clinical trials of chronic pain treatments: IMMPACT recommendations
Edwards, R. R., Dworkin, R. H., Turk, D. C., Angst, M. S., Dionne, R., Freeman, R., Hansson, P., Haroutounian, S., Arendt-Nielsen, L., Attal, N., et al. (2016) · Pain · doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000602 · Cited by 403 · see citing works
Blinding and expectancy confounds in psychedelic randomized controlled trials
Muthukumaraswamy, S. D., Forsyth, A., & Lumley, T. (2021) · Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology · doi:10.1080/17512433.2021.1933434 · Cited by 324 · see citing works
Clinical relevance of contextual factors as triggers of placebo and nocebo effects in musculoskeletal pain
Rossettini, G., Carlino, E., & Testa, M. (2018) · BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders · doi:10.1186/s12891-018-1943-8 · Cited by 313 · see citing works
“expectancy and negative expectancy), predicted a significant amount of outcome variance in patients receiving surgical and pain intervention [175].”
Background
Great Expectations: recommendations for improving the methodological rigor of psychedelic clinical trials
Aday, J. S., Heifets, B. D., Pratscher, S. D., Bradley, E., Rosen, R., & Woolley, J. D. (2022) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-022-06123-7 · Cited by 237 · see citing works
“2021) recommend the use of established measures of expectancy, such as the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (Younger et al. 2012), which is a valid and reliable measure of participants’ positive and negative treatment expectancies.”
Comparison of a Single-Session Pain Management Skills Intervention With a Single-Session Health Education Intervention and 8 Sessions of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Darnall, B. D., Roy, A., Chen, A. L., Ziadni, M. S., Keane, R. T., You, D. S., Slater, K., Poupore-King, H., Mackey, I., Kao, M.-C., et al. (2021) · JAMA Network Open · doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.13401 · Cited by 191 · see citing works
Self-citation
Increasing uncertainty in CNS clinical trials: the role of placebo, nocebo, and Hawthorne effects
Benedetti, F., Carlino, E., & Piedimonte, A. (2016) · The Lancet Neurology · doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(16)00066-1 · Cited by 184 · see citing works
Psychedelics, placebo effects, and set and setting: Insights from common factors theory of psychotherapy
Gukasyan, N., & Nayak, S. M. (2021) · Transcultural Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/1363461520983684 · Cited by 153 · see citing works
“The Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS) is another more recently created measure that could also be useful for examining expectancy (Younger et al., 2012).”
Background
Cannabidiol treatment in hand osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Vela, J., Dreyer, L., Petersen, K. K., Arendt‐Nielsen, L., Duch, K. S., & Kristensen, S. (2021) · Pain · doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002466 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
“Pre-treatment expe ctancy was quantified using the Stanford expectation of treatment scale (SETS)[49] quantifyi ng both positive and negative expectations of treatment on a scale from 0 to 21 were 21 indicates maximal positive or negative expectation.”
MethodInfluential
Consensus statement on placebo effects in sports and exercise: The need for conceptual clarity, methodological rigour, and the elucidation of neurobiological mechanisms
Beedie, C., Benedetti, F., Barbiani, D., Camerone, E. M., Cohen, E. E. A., Coleman, D. A., Davis, A., Elsworth-Edelsten, C., Flowers, E. P., Foad, A., et al. (2018) · European Journal of Sport Science · doi:10.1080/17461391.2018.1496144 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Open‐Label, Non‐Mandatory Transitioning From Originator Etanercept to Biosimilar SB 4
Tweehuysen, L., Huiskes, V. J. B., van den Bemt, B. J. F., Vriezekolk, J. E., Teerenstra, S., van den Hoogen, F. H. J., van den Ende, C. H. M., & den Broeder, A. A. (2018) · Arthritis & Rheumatology · doi:10.1002/art.40516 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
“The set of questionnaires consisted of 2 questionnaires on treatment expectations (6-item Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire [CEQ] [18] and 6-item Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale [SETS] [19]), a questionnaire on beliefs about prescribed medication (10-item Beliefs about Medication Questionnaire [BMQ-Specifi…”
Method
Development of the generic, multidimensional Treatment Expectation Questionnaire (TEX-Q) through systematic literature review, expert surveys and qualitative interviews
Alberts, J., Löwe, B., Glahn, M. A., Petrie, K. J., Laferton, J. A. C., Nestoriuc, Y., & Mora, M. C. S. (2020) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036169 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
The Treatment Expectation Questionnaire (TEX-Q): Validation of a generic multidimensional scale measuring patients’ treatment expectations
Mora, M. C. S., Alberts, J., Petrie, K. J., Laferton, J. A. C., von Blanckenburg, P., Kohlmann, S., Nestoriuc, Y., & Löwe, B. (2023) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0280472 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
“The fact that the benefit and harm expectation subscales were unrelated underpins the notion that positive and negative expectations are independent entities instead of one continuum [28].”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
Nocebos in rheumatology: emerging concepts and their implications for clinical practice
Kravvariti, E., Kitas, G. D., Mitsikostas, D. D., & Sfikakis, P. P. (2018) · Nature Reviews Rheumatology · doi:10.1038/s41584-018-0110-9 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Exploratory investigation of a patient‐informed low‐dose psilocybin pulse regimen in the suppression of cluster headache: Results from a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Schindler, E. A. D., Sewell, R. A., Gottschalk, C. H., Luddy, C., Flynn, L. T., Zhu, Y., Lindsey, H. M., Pittman, B. P., Cozzi, N. V., & D’Souza, D. C. (2022) · Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain · doi:10.1111/head.14420 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
“An interaction between drug and time was observed for MAP on all three test days (Day 1 F[21,317] = 2.”
Background
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation targeting the insular cortex for reduction of heavy drinking in treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent subjects: a randomized controlled trial
Perini, I., Kämpe, R., Arlestig, T., Karlsson, H., Löfberg, A., Pietrzak, M., Zangen, A., & Heilig, M. A. (2019) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/s41386-019-0565-7 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
“To assess whether participants believed they received active treatment or sham, participants completed the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS) [45].”
MethodInfluential
Expectancy Effects in Psychedelic Trials
Szigeti, B., & Heifets, B. D. (2024) · Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging · doi:10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.02.004 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Social networks for improving healthy weight loss behaviors for overweight and obese adults: A randomized clinical trial of the social pounds off digitally (Social POD) mobile app
Hales, S. B., Turner‐McGrievy, G. M., Wilcox, S., Fahim, A., Davis, R. E., Huhns, M. N., & Valafar, H. (2016) · International Journal of Medical Informatics · doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2016.07.003 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Why We should Assess Patients’ Expectations in Clinical Trials
Frisaldi, E., Shaibani, A. I., & Benedetti, F. (2017) · Pain and Therapy · doi:10.1007/s40122-017-0071-8 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Effect of Electroacupuncture vs Sham Treatment on Change in Pain Severity Among Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain
Kong, J., Puetz, C., Tian, L., Haynes, I., Lee, E., Stafford, R. S., Manber, R., & Mackey, S. (2020) · JAMA Network Open · doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.22787 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Self-citation
Symptom importance, patient expectations, and satisfaction in chronic rhinosinusitis
Mattos, J. L., Rudmik, L. R., Schlosser, R. J., Smith, T. L., Mace, J. C., Alt, J. A., & Soler, Z. M. (2019) · International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology · doi:10.1002/alr.22309 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Cognitive-Motivational Influences on Health Behavior Change in Adults with Chronic Pain
Anderson, R. J., Hurley, R. W., Staud, R. M., & Robinson, M. E. (2015) · Pain Medicine · doi:10.1111/pme.12929 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Risk of bias in randomized clinical trials on psychedelic medicine: A systematic review
Hovmand, O. R., Poulsen, E. D., Arnfred, S., & Storebø, O. J. (2023) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/02698811231180276 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
“Standardized instruments such as the Credibility/ Expectancy Questionnaire (Younger et al., 2012) could be utilized for this purpose.”
Placebo effects in osteoarthritis: implications for treatment and drug development
Neogi, T., & Colloca, L. (2023) · Nature Reviews Rheumatology · doi:10.1038/s41584-023-01021-4 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Treatment expectations and patient-reported outcomes of nusinersen therapy in adult spinal muscular atrophy
Osmanovic, A., Ranxha, G., Kumpe, M., Müschen, L. H., Binz, C., Wiehler, F., Paracka, L., Körner, S., Kollewe, K., Petri, S., et al. (2020) · Journal of Neurology · doi:10.1007/s00415-020-09847-8 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
A randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of surgical and nonsurgical treatment for cervical radiculopathy
Taso, M., Sommernes, J. H., Kolstad, F., Sundseth, J., Bjorland, S., Pripp, A. H., Zwart, J., & Brox, J. I. (2020) · BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders · doi:10.1186/s12891-020-3188-6 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Thirty Years of Neuroscientific Investigation of Placebo and Nocebo: The Interesting, the Good, and the Bad
Benedetti, F., Frisaldi, E., & Shaibani, A. I. (2021) · The Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology · doi:10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-052120-104536 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Patient phenotyping in clinical trials of chronic pain treatments: IMMPACT recommendations
Edwards, R. R., Dworkin, R. H., Turk, D. C., Angst, M. S., Dionne, R. A., Freeman, R. L., Hansson, P. T., Haroutounian, S., Arendt‐Nielsen, L., Attal, N., et al. (2021) · PAIN Reports · doi:10.1097/pr9.0000000000000896 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Blinding and sham control methods in trials of physical, psychological, and self-management interventions for pain (article I): a systematic review and description of methods
Hohenschurz‐Schmidt, D., Draper‐Rodi, J., Vase, L., Scott, W., McGregor, A. H., Soliman, N., MacMillan, A., Olivier, A., Cherian, C. A., Corcoran, D., et al. (2022) · Pain · doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002723 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression without psychedelic effects: study protocol for a 4-week, double-blind, proof-of-concept randomised controlled trial
Husain, M. I., Blumberger, D. M., Castle, D. J., Ledwos, N., Fellows, E., Jones, B. D. M., Ortiz, A., Kloiber, S. M., Wang, W., Rosenblat, J. D., et al. (2023) · BJPsych Open · doi:10.1192/bjo.2023.535 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
“37 The SETS will be administered at the baseline visit.”
Psychedelic-assisted therapy for treating anxiety, depression, and existential distress in people with life-threatening diseases
Schipper, S., Nigam, K. B., Schmid, Y., Piechotta, V., Ljuslin, M., Beaussant, Y., Schwarzer, G., & Boehlke, C. S. (2024) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd015383.pub2 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Psilocybin pulse regimen reduces cluster headache attack frequency in the blinded extension phase of a randomized controlled trial
Schindler, E. A. D., Sewell, R. A., Gottschalk, C. H., Flynn, L. T., Zhu, Y., Pittman, B. P., Cozzi, N. V., & D’Souza, D. C. (2024) · Journal of the Neurological Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.jns.2024.122993 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
LSD-assisted therapy in patients with anxiety: open-label prospective 12-month follow-up
Holze, F., Gasser, P., Müller, F., Strebel, M., & Liechti, M. E. (2024) · The British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.2024.99 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
“33 Also, the two placebo sessions in the second period could have served as additional integration sessions in those who received LSD in the first period.”
Background
Psychological distress in hospitalized patients without COVID-19 symptoms: the role of fear of infection and remote contact with informal caregivers
Colonnello, V., Leonardi, G., Farinelli, M., Bertoletti, E., & Russo, P. M. (2020) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291720005012 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Ultrasound guided lavage with corticosteroid injection versus sham lavage with and without corticosteroid injection for calcific tendinopathy of shoulder: randomised double blinded multi-arm study
Moosmayer, S., Ekeberg, O. M., Hallgren, H. B., Heier, I., Kvalheim, S., Juel, N. G., Blomquist, J., Pripp, A. H., & Brox, J. I. (2023) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-076447 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
“25 The appearance of deposits on radiographs was examined after the last follow-up had been done.”
BackgroundMethod
A Systematic Review of Study Design and Placebo Controls in Psychedelic Research
Wen, A. Q., Singhal, N., Jones, B. D. M., Zeifman, R. J., Mehta, S. H., Shenasa, M. A., Blumberger, D. M., Daskalakis, Z. J., & Weissman, C. R. (2023) · Psychedelic Medicine · doi:10.1089/psymed.2023.0028 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
“73,74 This scale consists of two subscales: positive and negative expectancy to allow for assessment of both placebo and nocebo effects.”
Influential
Training face perception in developmental prosopagnosia through perceptual learning
Corrow, S. L., Davies-Thompson, J., Fletcher, K., Hills, C. S., Corrow, J. C., & Barton, J. J. S. (2019) · Neuropsychologia · doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.107196 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Internet-Based Multimodal Pain Program With Telephone Support for Adults With Chronic Temporomandibular Disorder Pain: Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial
Lam, J., Svensson, P., & Alstergren, P. (2020) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/22326 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
“Patient Outcome Expectancy A Swedish translation of the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale was used to assess positive and negative pretreatment expectancies of treatments [26].”
Method
Expectancy Effects Threaten the Inferential Validity of Synchrony-Prosociality Research
Atwood, S., Schachner, A., & Mehr, S. A. (2022) · Open Mind · doi:10.1162/opmi_a_00067 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
“Participant expectancy effects are a well-documented form of placebo effects in the clinical and experimental psychology literature (Chan & Lovibond, 1996; Colagiuri, 2010; Goldstein, 2013; Oettingen, 2000; Younger et al., 2012).”
Background
Psychological and neurological predictors of acupuncture effect in patients with chronic pain: a randomized controlled neuroimaging trial
Wang, X., Li, J., Wei, X., Shi, G., Zhang, N., Tu, J., Yan, C.-Q., Zhang, Y., Hong, Y., Yang, J., et al. (2023) · Pain · doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002859 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Expectation of nocebo hyperalgesia affects EEG alpha-activity
Albu, S., & Meagher, M. W. (2016) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2016.08.009 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
The potential role of illness expectations in the progression of medical diseases
Pagnini, F. (2019) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-019-0346-4 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
“For example, The Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire [43] explores treatment credibility and expectancy, while the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale [44] considers both positive and negative expectations.”
Background
Clinic-Based Patellar Mobilization Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Sit, R. W. S., Chan, K. K. W., Zou, D., Chan, D. C. C., Yip, B. H. K., Zhang, D. D., Chan, Y. H., Chung, V. C., Reeves, K. D., & Wong, S. Y. S. (2018) · The Annals of Family Medicine · doi:10.1370/afm.2320 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Can knowledge of Placebo and Nocebo Mechanisms Help Improve Randomized Clinical Trials?
Carlino, E., & Vase, L. (2018) · International review of neurobiology · doi:10.1016/bs.irn.2018.01.012 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Therapeutic (Sub)stance: Current practice and therapeutic conduct in preparatory sessions in substance-assisted psychotherapy—A systematized review
Thal, S. B., Wieberneit, M., Sharbanee, J. M., Skeffington, P., Baker, P., Bruno, R., Wenge, T., & Bright, S. J. (2022) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/02698811221127954 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
“Furthermore, the client’s expectancy may be assessed using the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (Younger et al., 2012).”
Method
Nocebo effect and biosimilars in inflammatory bowel diseases: what’s new and what’s next?
D’Amico, F., Solitano, V., Peyrin‐Biroulet, L., & Danese, S. (2020) · Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy · doi:10.1080/14712598.2020.1817374 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
“SETS is a six-item instrument measuring positive (confidence in therapy, treatment efficacy, and disease resolution after treatment) and negative treatment expectancies (fears, worries, and nervousness about the negative effects of the treatment) and could be a suitable score to detect patients with poor treatment exp…”
BackgroundMethod
Telemonitoring and/or self-monitoring of blood pressure in hypertension (TASMINH4): protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Franssen, M., Farmer, A. A., Grant, S., Greenfield, S., Heneghan, C. J., Hobbs, R. F., Hodgkinson, J., Jowett, S. M., Mant, J., Martin, U., et al. (2017) · BMC Cardiovascular Disorders · doi:10.1186/s12872-017-0494-5 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
“Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS) Items 1–6 [29] [Baseline and 12 m follow up only]”
Method
Habitual Caffeine Consumption Does Not Interfere With the Acute Caffeine Supplementation Effects on Strength Endurance and Jumping Performance in Trained Individuals
Painelli, V. D. S., Teixeira, E. L., Tardone, B., Moreno, M., Morandini, J., Hevia-Larraín, V., & Pires, F. O. (2021) · International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism · doi:10.1123/ijsnem.2020-0363 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Treatment expectations and clinical outcomes following repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression.
Mollica, A., Ng, E., Burke, M. J., Nestor, S., Lee, H. H., Rabin, J., Hamani, C., Lipsman, N., & Giacobbe, P. (2024) · Brain Stimulation · doi:10.1016/j.brs.2024.06.006 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
“Both the positive and negative expectancy subscales have high internal reliability and consistency, and positive expectations have been predictive of treatment outcomes, and negative expectations have been associated with side effects [22].”
Neuromuscular exercise for chronic musculoskeletal pain in older people: a randomised controlled trial in primary care in Hong Kong
Sit, R. W. S., Choi, S. Y. K., Wang, B., Chan, D. C. C., Zhang, D., Yip, B. H. K., & Wong, S. Y. S. (2020) · British Journal of General Practice · doi:10.3399/bjgp20x714053 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
“33”
Psilocybin-assisted therapy for reducing alcohol intake in patients with alcohol use disorder: protocol for a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled 12-week clinical trial (The QUANTUM Trip Trial)
Jensen, M. E., Stenbæk, D. S., Juul, T. S., Fisher, P. M., Ekstrøm, C. T., Knudsen, G. M., & Fink‐Jensen, A. (2022) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066019 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Expectations for Improvement: A Neglected but Potentially Important Covariate or Moderator for Chronic Pain Clinical Trials
Langford, D. J., Lou, R., Sheen, S., Amtmann, D., Colloca, L., Edwards, R. R., Farrar, J. T., Katz, N. P., McDermott, M. P., Reeve, B. B., et al. (2022) · Journal of Pain · doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2022.12.011 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Comparative Efficacy and Mechanisms of a Single-Session Pain Psychology Class in Chronic Low Back Pain: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Darnall, B. D., Ziadni, M. S., Roy, A., Kao, M. J., Sturgeon, J. A., Cook, K. F., Lorig, K. R., Burns, J. W., & Mackey, S. (2018) · Trials · doi:10.1186/s13063-018-2537-3 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Self-citation
Are Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders More Prone to Manifest Nocebo-Like-Effects? A Meta-Analysis of Adverse Events in Placebo Groups of Double-Blind Antipsychotic Trials
Palermo, S., Giovannelli, F., Bartoli, M., & Amanzio, M. (2019) · Frontiers in Pharmacology · doi:10.3389/fphar.2019.00502 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Placebo Responders and Nonresponders: What’s New?
Frisaldi, E., Shaibani, A. I., & Benedetti, F. (2018) · Pain Management · doi:10.2217/pmt-2018-0054 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
A digital application and augmented physician rounds reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption after primary total knee replacement (TKR): a randomized clinical trial
Stuhlreyer, J., Roder, C., Krug, F., Zöllner, C., Flor, H., & Klinger, R. (2022) · BMC Medicine · doi:10.1186/s12916-022-02638-0 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
“Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS) and questions about treatment satisfaction after the surgery [19].”
Background
Comment on: “Caffeine and Exercise: What Next?”
Painelli, V. D. S., Brietzke, C., Franco‐Alvarenga, P. E., Canestri, R., Vinícius, Í., & Pires, F. O. (2020) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-020-01278-9 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Low-Dose Dextromethorphan for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia Pain: Results from a Longitudinal, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Trial
Mueller, C., Ness, T. J., & Younger, J. (2021) · Journal of Pain Research · doi:10.2147/jpr.s285609 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Self-citation
Patients’ perceptions on non‐specific effects of acupuncture: Qualitative comparison between responders and non‐responders
Ho, R. S. T., Ho, F. F., Adams, J., Cramer, H., Leung, B. M. Y., Ward, L., Zhang, Y., & Chung, V. C. (2021) · Integrative Medicine Research · doi:10.1016/j.imr.2021.100771 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
The Influence of Preoperative Mood and Treatment Expectations on Early Postsurgical Acute Pain After a Total Knee Replacement
Stuhlreyer, J., & Klinger, R. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.840270 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Expectations: How and when do they contribute to placebo analgesia?
Rosenkjær, S., Lunde, S. J., Kirsch, I., & Vase, L. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.817179 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Blinding and expectancy confounds in psychedelic randomised controlled trials
Muthukumaraswamy, S., Forsyth, A., & Lumley, T. (2021) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/q2hzm · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Blinding Integrity in Psychedelic Randomized Clinical Trials
Orsini, D. K., Wong, S., Luch, S. D. D., Chan, B., Vasudeva, S., Lovell, G. F. M., Le, G. H., Jones, B. D. M., Chisamore, N., Mollica, A., et al. (2026) · JAMA Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.0255 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
KALK study: ultrasound guided needling and lavage (barbotage) with steroid injection versus sham barbotage with and without steroid injection - protocol for a randomized, double-blinded, controlled, multicenter study
KALK study group, Moosmayer, S., Ekeberg, O. M., Hallgren, H. B., Heier, I., Kvalheim, S., Blomquist, J., Pripp, A. H., Juel, N. G., Kjellevold, S. H., et al. (2017) · BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders · doi:10.1186/s12891-017-1501-9 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
“On the treatment day, prior to treatment, three patient related outcome scores (Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) [14, 15], quickDASH upper extremity score [16, 17], EQ-5D-5L general health score [18, 19]) and three visual analogue scales (VAS) for pain at rest, during activity and at night will be completed by the patient,…”
MethodInfluential
Psilocybin for Depression: From Credibility to Feasibility, What’s Missing?
Munafò, A., Arillotta, D., Mannaioni, G., Schifano, F., Bernardini, R., & Cantarella, G. (2022) · Pharmaceuticals · doi:10.3390/ph16010068 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
“Hence, investigators should manage expectations whilst emphasizing the uncertainty regarding the treatment efficacy and measuring participants’ treatment expectations through established measures, such as the Stanford Expectations of Treatment scale [67], both at the baseline and after drug administration.”
Background
The Role of Treatment Perceptions in Intervention Evaluation: A Review
Sidani, S., & Fox, M. T. (2020) · Science of Nursing and Health Practices · doi:10.31770/2561-7516.1079 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
“This improvement, however, may be associated with participants’ placebo response initiated by the anticipated benefits of the treatment more so than with the active ingredients of the treatment to which they were actually exposed and they enacted (Frisaldi et al., 2017; Gaudiano et al., 2013; Younger et al., 2012).”
BackgroundInfluential
Cognitive interviews guide design of a new CAM patient expectations questionnaire
Sherman, K. J., Eaves, E. R., Ritenbaugh, C., Hsu, C. W., Cherkin, D. C., & Turner, J. A. (2014) · BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine · doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-39 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“Cognitive interviews have not been used when developing previously validated questionnaires of treatment expectations [13-15], even though cognitive interviews have been used when developing other questionnaires designed to assess patient reported outcomes [16,17].”
Method
Psilocybin-assisted therapy for severe alcohol use disorder: protocol for a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, 7-month parallel-group phase II superiority trial
Vanderijst, L., Hever, F., Buot, A., Dauré, C., Benoit, J., Hanak, C., Veeser, J., Morgiève, M., Campanella, S., Kornreich, C., et al. (2024) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-024-05502-y · Cited by 13 · see citing works
“Participants’ expectancy will be assessed with the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS; [114]) at baseline, and blinding efficacy will be assessed by asking participants and therapists to guess group allocation and indicate guess certainty following the psilocybin administration session.”
Method
Genomics and Patient Empowerment
McAllister, M. (2015) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-420195-8.00003-3 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
The role of the Nocebo effect in the use of biosimilars in routine rheumatology clinical practice
Kravvariti, E., & Kitas, G. D. (2019) · Mediterranean Journal of Rheumatology · doi:10.31138/mjr.30.1.63 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Best Practice Recommendations for Conducting and Reporting Controlled Trials in Clinical Hypnosis Research
Kekecs, Z., Moss, D., Whorwell, P. J., Varga, K., Terhune, D. B., Shenefelt, P. D., Palsson, O. S., Benedittis, G. D., & Elkins, G. (2024) · Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine · doi:10.1177/2515690x241274538 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“Valid measures of response expectancies include the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS), 87 and the credibility/expectancy questionnaire (CEQ).”
Method
The effects of being told you are in the intervention group on training results: a pilot study
Lindberg, K., Bjørnsen, T., Vårvik, F. T., Paulsen, G., Joensen, M., Kristoffersen, M., Sveen, O., Gundersen, H. S., Slettaløkken, G., Brankovic, R., et al. (2023) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-023-29141-7 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Acute Cuff Tear Repair Trial (ACCURATE): protocol for a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial on the efficacy of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
Ryösä, A., Kukkonen, J., Hallgren, H. B., Moosmayer, S., Holmgren, T., Ranebo, M. C., Bøe, B., & Äärimaa, V. (2019) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025022 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“High preoperative expectations are described to correlate with better results after rotator cuff surgery28 29 and low expectations with failure.30 To address the validity of the trial in the light of expectancies,31 32 we measure the preoperative expectations with Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale.33 Depression…”
Method
Use of Cannabidiol (CBD) oil in the treatment of PTSD: Study design and rationale for a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial
Telch, M. J., Fischer, C. M., Zaizar, E. D., Rubin, M., & Papini, S. (2022) · Contemporary Clinical Trials · doi:10.1016/j.cct.2022.106933 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Clinical effectiveness of patella mobilisation therapy versus a waiting list control for knee osteoarthritis: a protocol for a pragmatic randomised clinical trial
Sit, R. W. S., Chan, K. K. W., Yip, B. H. K., Zhang, D. D., Reeves, K. D., Chan, Y. H., Chung, V. C., & Wong, S. Y. S. (2018) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019103 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“Because the patient’s response to treatment may be influenced by his or her expectations before the start of treatment, reducing the statistical power to detect specific treatment effects, the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale will be used to overcome this.(52)”
Method
Use of Immersive Learning and Simulation Techniques to Teach and Research Opioid Prescribing Practices
Heirich, M. S., Sinjary, L. S., Ziadni, M. S., Sacks, S. H., Buchanan, A. S., Mackey, S., & Newmark, J. L. (2018) · Pain Medicine · doi:10.1093/pm/pny171 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Self-citation
Patients’ expectancy scale of acupuncture: Development and clinical performance test
Yang, X., Xia, W., Xu, Y., Han, F., Yan, S., Liu, Y., Wang, T., Zhou, J.-N., Chen, N., Zeng, X., et al. (2023) · Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice · doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101797 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
An Intervention for the Transition From Pediatric or Adolescent to Adult-Oriented HIV Care: Protocol for the Development and Pilot Implementation of iTransition
Tanner, A. E., Dowshen, N., Philbin, M. M., Rulison, K. L., Camacho-González, A., Lee, S., Moore, S. J., Fortenberry, J. D., & Hussen, S. A. (2021) · JMIR Research Protocols · doi:10.2196/24565 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Fear of compassion is associated with treatment ambivalence and negative expectations for treatment in people with anxiety
Merritt, O. A., & Purdon, C. (2021) · British Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjc.12313 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Acupuncture in Chronic Low Back Pain: Protocol for Two Linked Randomized Controlled Trials
Mackey, S., Gilam, G., Darnall, B. D., Goldin, P. R., Kong, J., Law, C. S. W., Heirich, M. S., Karayannis, N. V., Kao, M. J., Tian, L., et al. (2022) · JMIR Research Protocols · doi:10.2196/37823 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Self-citation
Probing the functional magnetic resonance imaging response to psilocybin in functional neurological disorder (PsiFUND): study protocol
Butler, M., Bird, C., Maggio, C., Durden, A., Modlin, N. L., Campbell‐Coker, K., Edwards, M. J., Pick, S., Millman, L. S. M., Lowery, E., et al. (2024) · Wellcome Open Research · doi:10.12688/wellcomeopenres.22543.1 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
A framework for quality measurement in the presurgical care of chronic rhinosinusitis: a review from the Quality Improvement Committee of the American Rhinologic Society
Mattos, J. L., Soler, Z. M., Rudmik, L. R., Manes, P. R., Higgins, T. S., Lee, J. T., Schneider, J. S., Setzen, M., Parasher, A. K., Smith, T. L., et al. (2018) · International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology · doi:10.1002/alr.22154 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Optimising treatment expectations in chronic lower back pain through observing others: a study protocol for a randomised clinical trial
Stuhlreyer, J., Schwartz, M., Friedheim, T., Zöllner, C., & Klinger, R. (2022) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059044 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Conscious connected breathing with breath retention intervention in adults with chronic low back pain: protocol for a randomized controlled pilot study
Pratscher, S. D., Sibille, K. T., & Fillingim, R. B. (2023) · Pilot and Feasibility Studies · doi:10.1186/s40814-023-01247-9 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Safety, feasibility, tolerability, and clinical effects of repeated psilocybin dosing combined with non-directive support in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: protocol for a randomized, waitlist-controlled trial with blinded ratings
Ching, T. H. W., Amoroso, L., Bohner, C., D’Amico, E. J., Eilbott, J. A., Entezar, T., Fitzpatrick, M., Fram, G., Grazioplene, R. G., Hokanson, J., et al. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1278823 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Prediction of duloxetine efficacy in addition to self‐management in painful temporomandibular disorders: A randomised, placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Ferreira, D. M. A. O., Soares, F. F. C., Raimundini, A. A., Bonjardim, L. R., Costa, Y. M., & Conti, P. C. R. (2023) · Journal of Oral Rehabilitation · doi:10.1111/joor.13628 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Development of a text message-based headache diary in adolescents and children
Kellier, D. J., de Prado, B. M., Haagen, D., Grabner, P., Raj, N. R., Lechtenberg, L., Velasquez, G., Hsu, J. Y., Farrar, J. T., Hershey, A. D., et al. (2022) · Cephalalgia · doi:10.1177/03331024221090206 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“This is a secondary analysis of data collected during follow-up from a validation study of a pediatric adaptation of the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale, a measure of a patient’s expectations of clinical outcome prior to the start of treatment (22).”
Method
A Psychometric Evaluation of the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS) in the Context of a Smoking Cessation Trial
Ferkin, A. C., Tonkin, S., Maguin, E., Mahoney, M. C., Colder, C. R., Tiffany, S. T., & Hawk, L. W. (2022) · Nicotine & Tobacco Research · doi:10.1093/ntr/ntac187 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Suggestions in Hypnosis to Aid Pain Education (SHAPE) in People with Chronic Low-Back Pain: A Pilot Feasibility Randomized, Controlled Trial
Pulling, B. W., Braithwaite, F. A., Moseley, G. L., Jensen, M. P., Burke, A. L. J., Collins, K. L., Hull, M. J., Jones, H. G., Cyna, A. M., Ferencz, N., et al. (2022) · International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis · doi:10.1080/00207144.2022.2105147 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“Treatment expectations (Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale; Younger et al., 2012) were assessed at baseline and after the first treatment session.”
Background
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, hybrid parallel-arm study of low-dose naltrexone as an adjunctive anti-inflammatory treatment for major depressive disorder
Plank, J. R., Glover, S. C., Moloney, B. D., Hoeh, N. R., Sundram, F., Sumner, R. L., Muthukumaraswamy, S. D., & Lin, J. C. (2022) · Trials · doi:10.1186/s13063-022-06738-3 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“Finally, the Generic Assessment of Side Effects (GASE, [51]) questionnaire will be used to monitor the adverse effects of LDN, and treatment expectancy effects will be measured using the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS, [52]).”
Method
Randomized controlled trial of intrathecal oxytocin on speed of recovery after hip arthroplasty
Eisenach, J. C., Shields, J. S., Weller, R. S., Curry, R. S., Langfitt, M. K., Henshaw, D. S., Pollock, D. C., Edwards, C. J., Collaborators, S. O. H. S., & Houle, T. T. (2022) · Pain · doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002810 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Psilocybin‐assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder: A pilot open‐label safety and feasibility study.
Knock, E., Siefried, K. J., Bedi, G., Albert, S., Day, R. O., Ezard, N., Ross, M., Liknaitzky, P., & Brett, J. (2025) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/add.70187 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Feasibility of Web-Based Single-Session Empowered Relief in Patients With Chronic Pain Taking Methadone or Buprenorphine: Protocol for a Single-Arm Trial
Klein, M. R., Darnall, B. D., & You, D. S. (2024) · JMIR Research Protocols · doi:10.2196/53784 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“The 6-item Stanford Expectation of Treatment Scale [33] is administered to assess positive and negative expectation of upcoming treatment on an 11-point Likert scale ( α =.86).”
Method
Individualized frequency and montage tACS to engage theta-gamma coupling and enhance working memory in mild cognitive impairment
Mirjalili, M., Palamarchuk, I. S., Brooks, H., Zomorrodi, R., Melichercik, A., Wang, W., Nestor, S. M., Blumberger, D. M., Datta, A., Bowie, C. R., et al. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1565881 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
5‐Methoxy‐ N , N ‐dimethyltryptamine (5‐MeO‐DMT) for alcohol use disorder: An open‐label, phase 2, proof‐of‐concept, clinical trial
Marsden, J., Kelleher, M., Dunbar, F., Ermakova, A. O., Mitcheson, L., Roberts, C., Rucker, J., Scott, G., Saeger, I., Small, F., et al. (2025) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/add.70260 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Replicability of motor cortex-excitability modulation by intermittent theta burst stimulation
Seybert, C., Cotovio, G., da Silva, D. R., Viana, F. F., Pereira, P., & Oliveira-Maia, A. J. (2023) · Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2023.04.014 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“Additionally, to assess participant expectation regarding the effects of TMS, we adapted the Stanford Expectation Treatment Scale (SETS) (Younger et al., 2012) to a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) research setting, according to International Test Commission Guidelines for Translating and Adapting Tests (ITC Gu…”
Method
A randomized sham-controlled trial of high-dosage accelerated intermittent theta burst rTMS in major depression: study protocol
Goodman, M. S., Vila‐Rodriguez, F., Barwick, M. A., Burke, M. J., Downar, J. H., Hunter, J., Kaster, T. S., Knyahnytska, Y., Kurdyak, P. A., Maunder, R., et al. (2024) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-023-05470-9 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“At baseline, participants will be asked about their expectancy of improving following the treatment course using the Stanford Expectancy Scale [41].”
Method
Effectiveness, cost-utility and implementation of a decision aid for patients with localised prostate cancer and their partners: study protocol of a stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial
Al-Itejawi, H. H. M., van Uden‐Kraan, C. F., van de Ven, P. M., Coupé, V. M. H., Vis, A. N., Nieuwenhuijzen, J. A., van Moorselaar, R. J. A., & Leeuw, I. M. V. (2017) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015154 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“Questions 7–10 are not scored and just provide optional information.(30)”
Background
Efficacy of the cognitive functional therapy (CFT) in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: a study protocol for a randomized sham-controlled trial
de Lira, M. R., Meziat‐Filho, N., Silva, G. Z. M., & Chaves, T. C. (2022) · Trials · doi:10.1186/s13063-022-06466-8 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“In the baseline, we will administer scales to assess moderating effect: expectation [34], depression [35], anxiety [36], kinesiofobia [37], and pain catastrophizing [38].”
Method
Neurological and psychological mechanisms of the specific and nonspecific effects of acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis: study protocol for a randomized, controlled, crossover trial
Li, J., Liu, C., Zhang, N., Yan, C.-Q., Tu, J., Wang, Y., Qi, Y., Liu, J., & Wang, X. (2020) · Trials · doi:10.1186/s13063-020-04908-9 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
MDMA-Assisted Group Therapy for PTSD: Development of a Novel Protocol
Stauffer, C. S., Bouleh, P., & Anderson, B. T. (2025) · Cognitive and Behavioral Practice · doi:10.1016/j.cbpra.2025.03.001 · Cited by 6 · see citing works

Prospectively measuring placebo and nocebo effects: development of the Stanford Expectancy of Treatment Scale (SETS)
Noor, N., Gandhi, V., McCue, R., Younger, J., & Mackey, S. (2011) · Journal of Pain · doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2011.02.049 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citation
Assessment of patients’ expectations: development and validation of the Expectation for Treatment Scale (ETS)
Barth, J., Kern, A., Lüthi, S., & Witt, C. (2019) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026712 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF THE EXPECTATION SCALE IN CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENT
Pilotti, S., França, B. R., Bueno, G. B., de Souza, A. F., ShigueruTashiro, D., Xavier, R. M., & Caumo, W. (2023) · Congresso Brasileiro de Reumatologia · doi:10.47660/cbr.2023.2517
A single-item Expectancy Measure’s Validity, Reliability, and Responsiveness to Detect Changes in Clinical Efficacy Studies of Integrative Cancer Therapies: A Methodology Study
Efverman, A. (2024) · Integrative Cancer Therapies · doi:10.1177/15347354241273944 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Acupuncture Expectancy Scale: Development and Preliminary Validation in China
Mao, J. J. J., Armstrong, K., Farrar, J. T., & Bowman, M. A. (2007) · EXPLORE · doi:10.1016/j.explore.2006.12.003 · Cited by 82 · see citing works

Authors: Younger, J., Gandhi, V., Hubbard, E., & Mackey, S.
Affiliations: Stanford Medicine (US)
ORCID: Younger, Jarred
Hubbard, Emily
Mackey, Sean
Venue: Clinical Trials
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2012-11-20
Volume: 9
Issue: 6
Pages: 767-776
ISSN: 1740-7745 (ISSN-L)
1740-7753
DOI: 10.1177/1740774512465064
OpenAlex: W2020646491
Cited by: 212
References: 69
Citations by year: 2026: 27 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1
FWCI: 0.98
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Clinical Trials (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: School of Medicine, Stanford University
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Pain Management and Placebo Effect
Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Methods in Clinical Trials
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Keywords: treatment expectancy, patient expectations, placebo effect, expectancy effects, scale development, psychometric validation, surgical treatment, pain interventions, statistical power
MeSH terms: Adult, Aged, Attitude to Health, Clinical Trials as Topic, Data Interpretation, Statistical, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Predictive Value of Tests, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Research Design, Reproducibility of Results, Placebo Effect, Research Subjects

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Development of the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS): A tool for measuring patient outcome expectancy in clinical trials

Abstract

Integrity signals

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Cites

Cited by

Related

Record

About these checks