Why doctors should look for ways to prescribe hope
1 min read
Summary
New research has demonstrated a link between heightened optimism and better health outcomes for those with heart disease.
The concept of the “placebo effect” has been known for decades, wherein positive expectations of a treatment’s success can actually result in improved medical outcomes.
The inverse, dubbed the “nocebo effect”, can also be dangerous, whereby negative expectations can harm health.
While clinicians are trying to find ways of harnessing the power of the mind in a clinical setting, one researcher suggests the key is in helping patients achieve “goals, agency, and general outlook on life” rather than misleading them.
Optimism and hope can have a positive impact on health, and can be beneficial in a clinical setting as well as more generally in day-to-day life.