Abstract

Objective: To examine how psychiatrists think about and modulate non-specific factors (e.g., hope, expectations) in clinical practice.Methods: U.S. psychiatrists were recruited for two studies assessing attitudes and behaviors related to non-specific factors. Study 1 entailed remote qualitative focus groups (k = 7) with n = 26 participants (36.0% female). Study 2 was a quantitative survey with n = 346 respondents (34.0% female) designed to assess the generalizability of focus group findings.Results: Four themes were identified in Study 1 that were used to inform the survey (Study 2): (1) Expectations (2) Hope, (3) Placebo Effect, and (4) Aesthetic Features. Nearly all surveyed psychiatrists (92.2%) considered patient expectations at least “most of the time” when interacting with a patient. Focus groups revealed that psychiatrists often attempt to balance optimism and realism to improve outcomes. A majority of survey respondents believed office design and physician attire could at least somewhat influence expectations (72.5 and 77.3%, respectively) and even outcomes (51.5 and 58.7%, respectively). Focus group psychiatrists described how physical features may be used as therapeutic tools.Conclusions: Psychiatrists are highly mindful of patient expectations. Although there is variability in the perceived importance of expectations, hope, the placebo effect, and aesthetic features, many utilize these factors in clinical practice.

Highlights

  • While medical research typically focuses on specific treatment factors, such as the chemical ingredients in pills or specific psychotherapeutic techniques, a growing body of research indicates that non-specific factors contribute to patient outcomes [1,2,3]

  • As inflation-adjusted healthcare costs have nearly doubled since the start of the 21st century [4], it is critical to investigate these non-specific factors as low-cost ways to improve patient outcomes

  • Non-specific factors refer to general aspects of treatment common across therapeutic modalities, such as trust, rituals, hope, or expectations [5]

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Summary

Introduction

While medical research typically focuses on specific treatment factors, such as the chemical ingredients in pills or specific psychotherapeutic techniques, a growing body of research indicates that non-specific factors contribute to patient outcomes [1,2,3]. As inflation-adjusted healthcare costs have nearly doubled since the start of the 21st century [4], it is critical to investigate these non-specific factors as low-cost ways to improve patient outcomes. Non-specific factors refer to general aspects of treatment common across therapeutic modalities, such as trust, rituals, hope, or expectations [5]. Better physician communication (e.g., more eye contact) and increased empathy have a small but statistically significant effect on both subjective and objective patient outcomes such as weight loss, health-related quality of life, and re-consultation rate [6]. High expectations can trigger dopamine and endogenous opioid release, which have a healing effect [7, 8].

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