Authors:
Ferenc Köteles Institute for Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary

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Adrienn Tóth Department of Personality and Health Physiology, Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary

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György Bárdos Institute for Health Promotion and Sport Sciences and Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
Institute for Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Bogdánfy Ödön u. 10, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary

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Abstract

The possible roles of perceptual characteristics (colour, shape, size) of tablets and personality characteristics in generating expectations of drug side effects were investigated. Two hundred and thirteen hospitalized patients (mean age 48.9 ± 18.84 years) completed questionnaires (trait anxiety — STAI-T, dispositional optimism — LOT-R, subjective somatic symptoms — PHQ-15, somatosensory amplification — SSAS, previous personal and family-level experiences) and the expected probabilities of nine side effects for six differently looking tablets were estimated. PHQ-15, SSAS and family-level experience scores were significant predictors of the expectations of side effects. Red tablets evoked significantly more stimulating type expectations than did white pills. Expected gastrointestinal side effects were associated with oblong-shaped tablets. Regarding headache, medium-sized round tablet was expected to evoke fewer side effects than the small round and the oblong tablets. Although expectations do not always manifest themselves as actual symptoms, they can reduce the overall effectiveness of a therapy by influencing patient's adherence.

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Clinical and Experimental Medical Journal
Language English
Size  
Year of
Foundation
2007
Publication
Programme
ceased
Volumes
per Year
 
Issues
per Year
 
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address
H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245
Responsible
Publisher
Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 2060-6249 (Print)
ISSN 2060-968X (Online)

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