Dispositional predictors of placebo responding: a motivational interpretation of flower essence and gratitude therapy
Dispositional predictors of placebo responding: a motivational interpretation of flower essence and gratitude therapy
Objectives
The aim of this study was to test a motivational interpretation of placebo responding using two different types of placebo therapy, one using flower essences and the other a nonspecific psychological therapy. The motivational concordance interpretation is that therapeutic rituals that are consistent with self-defining or self-actualizing goals have a nonspecific therapeutic benefit independently of expectancy.
Methods
Study 1 was a replication of an earlier flower essence outcome study but with additional outcome and predictor variables: 167 people completed questionnaires in return for free flower essence treatment. Predictor variables consisted of two measures of spirituality, optimism, expectancy, and attitudes and beliefs to complementary medicine. Outcome was assessed after 3 weeks. In Study 2, 90 people took part in “gratitude therapy” for improved sleep quality over one night in return for questionnaire completion (trait gratitude, spirituality, and expectancy).
Results
Study 1 confirmed previous research: Trait spirituality predicted perceived improvement. This improvement was independent of optimism (P<.001), cannot be explained by acquiescence or social desirability, and was independent of a highly conservative test of expectancy (P=.02). In Study 2, trait gratitude predicted perceived sleep improvement independently of expectancy (P=.01): Spirituality did not correlate with improvement.
Conclusions
These data suggest that in addition to expectations, degree of engagement in a positive, therapeutic ritual determines the extent of the placebo response. The placebo response depends in part on the interaction (i.e., the degree of concordance) between the type of therapy and the participant's personality: Dispositional predictors vary with the type of placebo therapy.
placebo responder, disposition, personality, motivation, interaction, positive psychology
331-340
Hyland, Michael E.
1d620384-b39a-4e3e-8d2a-7f42d5e65e22
Whalley, Ben
e7183502-bda0-4189-aa14-3a681b4fc16d
Geraghty, Adam W.A.
2c6549fe-9868-4806-b65a-21881c1930af
March 2007
Hyland, Michael E.
1d620384-b39a-4e3e-8d2a-7f42d5e65e22
Whalley, Ben
e7183502-bda0-4189-aa14-3a681b4fc16d
Geraghty, Adam W.A.
2c6549fe-9868-4806-b65a-21881c1930af
Hyland, Michael E., Whalley, Ben and Geraghty, Adam W.A.
(2007)
Dispositional predictors of placebo responding: a motivational interpretation of flower essence and gratitude therapy.
Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 62 (3), .
(doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2006.10.006).
Abstract
Objectives
The aim of this study was to test a motivational interpretation of placebo responding using two different types of placebo therapy, one using flower essences and the other a nonspecific psychological therapy. The motivational concordance interpretation is that therapeutic rituals that are consistent with self-defining or self-actualizing goals have a nonspecific therapeutic benefit independently of expectancy.
Methods
Study 1 was a replication of an earlier flower essence outcome study but with additional outcome and predictor variables: 167 people completed questionnaires in return for free flower essence treatment. Predictor variables consisted of two measures of spirituality, optimism, expectancy, and attitudes and beliefs to complementary medicine. Outcome was assessed after 3 weeks. In Study 2, 90 people took part in “gratitude therapy” for improved sleep quality over one night in return for questionnaire completion (trait gratitude, spirituality, and expectancy).
Results
Study 1 confirmed previous research: Trait spirituality predicted perceived improvement. This improvement was independent of optimism (P<.001), cannot be explained by acquiescence or social desirability, and was independent of a highly conservative test of expectancy (P=.02). In Study 2, trait gratitude predicted perceived sleep improvement independently of expectancy (P=.01): Spirituality did not correlate with improvement.
Conclusions
These data suggest that in addition to expectations, degree of engagement in a positive, therapeutic ritual determines the extent of the placebo response. The placebo response depends in part on the interaction (i.e., the degree of concordance) between the type of therapy and the participant's personality: Dispositional predictors vary with the type of placebo therapy.
This record has no associated files available for download.
More information
Published date: March 2007
Keywords:
placebo responder, disposition, personality, motivation, interaction, positive psychology
Organisations:
Primary Care & Population Sciences
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 146049
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/146049
ISSN: 0022-3999
PURE UUID: 50ac82f1-10a7-42b0-ad82-655f5c7ea3d2
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 06 May 2010 11:14
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:56
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Michael E. Hyland
Author:
Ben Whalley
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
