Research Topics
My research focuses on understanding how psychological processes influence the perceptions, judgments, and behaviours of healthcare professionals and patients, and on translating this knowledge into clinical practice, health professions education, and innovative solutions, including artificial intelligence.
Psychological and contextual determinants of health outcomes: placebo and nocebo effects
I investigate the psychological mechanisms underlying placebo and nocebo effects, with particular attention to the role of expectations, emotions, and contextual factors—including healthcare communication, the therapeutic relationship, and the care environment—in shaping clinical outcomes. My goal is to translate this evidence into clinical practice to improve the effectiveness, safety, and appropriateness of healthcare.
Healthcare communication, education, and innovation
My research includes the development and evaluation of interventions aimed at improving communication between healthcare professionals and patients, with a particular focus on expectation management, treatment adherence, nocebo risk reduction, and person-centred care. I also develop and evaluate innovative educational strategies for healthcare students, professionals, and the public, with particular interest in the responsible, ethical, and evidence-based use of generative artificial intelligence in healthcare communication and education. See PANACEA and ECHOO - Education on Placebo and Nocebo Programme https://site.unibo.it/educationonplacebo/en; https://eduonplacebo.unibo.it/welcome
Face perception and mental representations
I investigate the psychological processes underlying first impressions, mental representations, and social judgments based on facial appearance, with particular interest in healthcare settings.
