Suggestion as clinical tool—more than just a suggestion?

In their article entitled “From Dynamic Lesions to Brain Imaging of Behavioral Lesions: Alloying the Gold of Psychoanalysis with the Copper of Suggestion,” Raz & Wolfson provide an updated review of the biological basis of suggestion, from a historical perspective of its origin to more modern conceptual aspects, as well as the most recent work elucidating neuronal correlates. In an attempt to reconcile psychology with cognition, a complete explanation in terms of brain mechanisms remains to be fully uncovered. Indeed, beyond the conceptual issue, how words may influence the brain via suggestion is debated. The challenge is to better characterize a unified picture of brain function and its intrinsic relation to the mind. The clinical aspects of suggestion including placebo effects are discussed in this commentary. A relatively large body of evidence investigating placebo effects and suggestion points to a robust and consistent effect in a large spectrum of brain disorders. Further study of suggestion as a potential tool in clinical practice is warranted.