A study just published in the journal Pain looked at the effect of patient expectations on outcome of acupuncture treatment. Four large studies were analyzed and one of the four A study just published in the journal Pain looked at the effect of patient expectations on outcome of acupuncture treatment. Four large studies were analyzed and one of the four involved treatment of migraines and one of tension-type headaches. Patients who prior to the start of treatment thought that acupuncture was effective or highly effective did much better than those who were skeptical about it’s efficacy. The difference persisted 6 months following the treatment. These finding are not very surprising, but they do have an important practical application. If you do not believe acupuncture will work you are better off trying another treatment.
(Linde K, Witt, C, Streng A, et al. The impact of patient expectations on outcomes in four randomized controlled trials of acupuncture in patients with chronic pain. Pain 128 (2007) 264-271).
