Drug-Set Interaction: Psychological and Physiological Effects of Epinephrine Under Differential Expectations

Abstract

To determine whether physiologic responses to a drug could be changed by expectation, and what role placebo effect might play, 14 medical students were given either epinephrine or placebo. Measurements of subjective response and response of plasma free fatty acids, blood glucose, and heart rate were made. Stimulant expectation was engendered by suggestion of epinephrine-like effects, and sedative expectation by suggestion of barbiturate-like effects. Of 8 drug subjects, 8 had a greater FFA response under stimulant expectations, and 7 had greater subjective, blood glucose, and heart rate responses. In 6 placebo subjects, there was no discernible effect of expectation in any measure.