Cardiovascular responses to cocaine placebo in humans: a preliminary report

Biol Psychiatry. 1989 Feb 1;25(3):285-95. doi: 10.1016/0006-3223(89)90176-5.

Abstract

Cardiovascular responses after placebo-cocaine injections were in the same direction as the effect of cocaine iv in 22 male volunteers. Subjects received iv placebo in a room where they had been given repeated doses of iv cocaine. The placebo response consisted of an increase from baseline values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate. The control group, 8 subjects, which was not exposed to a conditioning phase, showed a smaller increase in the pulse rate and systolic blood pressure after the placebo injection. The results, in accordance with animal literature, suggest the existence of cocaine-conditioned effects in humans.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arousal / drug effects*
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Cocaine / pharmacology*
  • Conditioning, Classical / drug effects*
  • Heart Rate / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Set, Psychology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology

Substances

  • Cocaine