The effect of verbal instructions on blood pressure measurement

Autonomic effects of suggestive placebo interventions to increase or decrease blood pressure: A randomized controlled trial in healthy subjects

“…A second blood pressure measurement five minutes later showed a significantly higher systolic blood pressure in the increase condition (mean change, +4.5 mm Hg), when compared with the decreases in both the no change condition (−3.5 mm Hg) and the decrease condition (−7.8 mm Hg). Verbal suggestions had no effect on diastolic blood pressure [10]. In a study by Meissner & Ziep, 45 healthy participants received either a homeopathic remedy or an identical-looking placebo pill in a doubleblind design, or no pill.…”

“…Two previous studies demonstrated effects of verbal suggestions on blood pressure in healthy volunteers [3,10]. In a study by Amigo et al, 45 healthy subjects received a blood pressure measurement accompanied by verbal suggestions that the measurement would either increase, decrease, or not change blood pressure.…”

“…Participants were subsequently instructed to apply the placebo spray twice sublingually, followed by another 30 min of recording. According to previous studies, placebo effects on autonomic measures can be expected within 30 min after intervention [2][3][4]10] Hemodynamic and autonomic parameters were continuously monitored and analyzed using the Task Force Monitor [11][12][13], Version 2.1 (CNSystems, Graz, Austria). This integrated system includes electrocardiogram, impedance cardiography, continuous and oscillometric BP recording.…”

Neuro-Bio-Behavioral Mechanisms of Placebo and Nocebo Responses: Implications for Clinical Trials and Clinical Practice

“…Placebo-induced drops in systolic but not diastolic blood pressure in normo-and hypertensive patients have been reported (Agras et al, 1982;Suchman and Ader, 1992;Amigo et al, 1993). More recently, verbally induced expectation reduced systolic blood pressure without affecting diastolic blood pressure or other autonomic responses, such as skin conductance and sympathetic and parasympathetic components of heart rate variability in healthy volunteers (Meissner and Ziep, 2011).…”

Health promoting effects of the physician-patient encounter

“…Information can also have an adverse impact on health, e.g. by increasing blood pressure (Amigo et al, 1993;Orth et al, 1987).…”