Psychological contributors to a medication health scare: what do we know so far?

Abstract

Associate Professor Kate Faasse started her academic career exploring the psychological contributors to a medication health scare in New Zealand.  The questions raised by this health scare have resulted in 15 years of experimental research into the nocebo effect. In this talk, she will reflect on the evidence her work has generated thus far, what we have learned about how nocebo effects form, and how we assess the underlying mechanisms.

Bio

Kate Faasse is Associate Professor in Health Psychology, in the School of Psychology, Faculty of Science at UNSW Sydney. She is a past ARC DECRA awardee, and recently received an Early Career Research Award from the International Society for Behavioural Medicine. Her main research area focuses on the nocebo effect – the dark side of the placebo effect – where negative expectations can cause unpleasant side effects. Her research explores how nocebo effects form, and how we can stop them.