The evidence that positive treatment expectations can help treatment outcome and that no or negative expectations can compromise treatment success has reached a tipping point. In this interactive seminar, Dr Katja Wiech and Dr Jeremy Howick will:

· give an overview on the evidence for an influence of expectations on treatment outcome
· explain brain mechanisms underlying this influence and
· highlight ways to use communication to support the positive effect of expectations

Clinicians, patients, and anyone interested is welcome to attend.

Katja Wiech is an Associate Professor at the Oxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB), University of Oxford. Her research aims to understand brain mechanisms underlying the effect beliefs have on the perception of pain. Jeremy Howick is a senior researcher at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences and the director of the Oxford Empathy Programme.