The information that clinicians provide to patients about a medication prescribed for their migraines can influence the magnitude of pain relief induced by the treatment, reports a study published online today in Science Translational Medicine. The findings suggest that patients who receive positive messages about the potential efficacy of their treatment may have better treatment outcomes than patients who receive negative messages. “This study suggests that our expectancies and our mindset does have a role to play in how well our medicine works,” says Dr. Howard Brody, a medical ethicist at UTMB who was not involved in the study. “It highlights that the information we provide for patients can be part of the healing experience, and can enhance the power of any other treatment we prescribe.” Brody says that he believes that clinicians can enhance patients’ expectations in practice in honest ways that do not deceive the patients, by being encouraging, compassionate and taking the time to listen to patients.