POISON AND NOCEBO - 2 ASPECTS OF TOXICOLO GY

Background: Erroneously it is assumed that drugs promote health exclus ively by interacting with the organism through chemical or physical fo rces. However, placebo phenomena are omnipresent in patients who belie ve in die value of a treatment, be it medical or paramedical. Converse ly, nocebo phenomena originate from fear of detrimental effects attrib uted to a putative poison. Thus, both drugs and poisons release two di fferent messages, the one bring physico-chemical the other psychosocia l. The latter is fostered by the public opinion, and man is a sensitiv e receiver. Typical Nocebo Phenomena: Here some epidemiological exampl es of nocebo phenomena will be presented. Each society selects the mat ching nocebos, today mainly as chemical exposures from oecological sou rces such as environment, buildings, emissions and industrial products . Therapeutical Approach: Suspicion of nocebo should not hamper the se arch for chemical poisons. Anxiety and fear furnish the neurobiologica l and evolutionary basis of the nocebo phenomena. Hence behavioural an d conversational therapy. supported by antidepressants if needed, shou ld be tried. Unfortunately, most patients expect their psychosocial pr oblems instead to be declared as chemical.