Operationalization of Nocebo Hyperalgesia and Nocebo Change
hyperalgesia, Nocebo hyperalgesia, pain
Nocebo effects were measured by calculating the mean difference between the pain ratings in all 3 experimental trials (“DNS on”) and the pain ratings in all 3 control trials (“DNS off”) from the testing phase in part 1 or 2. Nocebo hyperalgesia refers to the magnitude of nocebo effects obtained after nocebo conditioning in part 1. Nocebo change refers to changes in the magnitude of nocebo effects between parts 1 and 2. To obtain this variable, the nocebo effects calculated in part 2 were subtracted from the nocebo effects in part 1. A larger positive score on this nocebo change variable indicates a larger reduction in nocebo hyperalgesia from part 1 to part 2.