Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Anticipatory nausea and vomiting

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Supportive Care in Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Anticipatory nausea and vomiting (ANV) is not only a learned response but can occur without prior exposure to chemotherapy depending on patient emotional distress and expectations. The best method to avoid development or reinforcement of ANV is to avoid both vomiting and nausea from the first exposure to chemotherapy. If ANV develops, benzodiazepines have been documented to help in adult patients, and several psychological techniques are also of help, including systematic desensitization. The evidence on which these conclusions are based is reviewed in this article.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aapro MS, Kirchner V, Terrey JP (1994) The incidence of anticipatory nausea and vomiting after repeat cycle chemotherapy: the effect of granisetron. Br J Cancer 69:957–960

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Andrykowski MA, Redd WH, Hatfield AK (1985) Development of anticipatory nausea: a prospective analysis. J Consult Clin Psychol 53:447–454

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Antiemetic Subcommittee of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) (1998) Prevention of chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced emesis: results of Perugia Consensus Conference. Ann Oncol 9:811–819

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Burish TG, Shartner CD, Lyles JN (1981) Effectiveness of multiple muscle-site EMG biofeedback and relaxation training in reducing the aversiveness of cancer chemotherapy. Biofeedback Self Regul 6:523–535

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Carey MP, Burish TG (1988) Etiology and treatment of the psychological side effects associated with cancer chemotherapy: a critical review and discussion. Psychol Bull 104:307–325

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Collins KB, Thomas DJ (2004) Acupuncture and acupressure for the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. J Am Acad Nurse Pract 16:76–80

    Google Scholar 

  7. Davey VA, Biederman GB (1998) Conditioned antisickness: indirect evidence from rats and direct evidence from ferrets that conditioning alleviates drug-induced nausea and emesis. J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process 24:483–491

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Fernandez-Marcos A, Martin M, Sanchez JJ, Rodriguez-Lescure A, Casado A, Lopez Martin JA, Diaz-Rubio E (1996) Acute and anticipatory emesis in breast cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 4:370–377

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Fetting JH, Sheidler VR, Stefanek ME, et al (1987) Clonidine for anticipatory nausea and vomiting: a pilot study examining dose-toxicity relationships and potential for further study. Cancer Treat Rep 71:409–410

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Gulhas N, Turkoz A, Durmus M, Togal T, Gedik E, Ersoy MO (2003) Oral clonidine premedication does not reduce postoperative vomiting in children undergoing strabismus surgery. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 47:90–93

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hickok JT, Roscoe JA, Morrow GR (2001) The role of patients’ expectations in the development of anticipatory nausea related to chemotherapy for cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage 22:843–850

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Hursti T, Fredrikson M, et al (1992) Association between personality characteristics and the prevalence and extinction of conditioned nausea after chemotherapy. J Psychosoc Oncol 10:59–77

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kim Y, Morrow GR (2003) Changes in family relationships affect the development of chemotherapy-related nausea symptoms. Support Care Cancer 11:171–177

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Lett BT (1983) Pavlovian drug-sickness pairings result in the conditioning of an antisickness response. Behav Neurosci 97:779–784

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Malik IA, Khan WA, Qazilbash M, Ata E, Butt A, Khan MA (1995) Clinical efficacy of lorazepam in prophylaxis of anticipatory, acute, and delayed nausea and vomiting induced by high doses of cisplatin. A prospective randomized trial. Am J Clin Oncol 18:170–175

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Marchioro G, Azzarello G, Viviani F, Barbato F, Pavanetto M, Rosetti F, Pappagallo GL, Vinante O (2000) Hypnosis in the treatment of anticipatory nausea and vomiting in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. Oncology 59:100–104

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Matteson, S, Roscoe J, Hickok J, Morrow GR (2002) The role of behavioral conditioning in the development of nausea. Am J Obstet Gynecol 185 [5 Suppl]:S239–S243

  18. Mayer DJ (2000) Acupuncture: an evidence-based review of the clinical literature. Annu Rev Med 51:49–63

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Molassiotis A (1999) Further evaluation of a scale to screen for risk of emotional difficulties in bone marrow transplant recipients. J Adv Nurs 29:922–927

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Molassiotis A, Yung HP, Yam BM, Chan FY, Mok TS (2002) The effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation training in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in Chinese breast cancer patients: a randomised controlled trial. Support Care Cancer 10:237–246

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Montgomery GH, Bovbjerg DH (2003) Expectations of chemotherapy-related nausea: emotional and experiential predictors. Ann Behav Med 25:48–54

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Morrow GR (1984) Clinical characteristics associated with the development of anticipatory nausea and vomiting in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. J Clin Oncol 2:1170–1176

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Morrow GR, Rosenthal SN (1996) Models, mechanisms and management of anticipatory nausea and emesis. Oncology 53 [Suppl 1]:4–7

    Google Scholar 

  24. Morrow GR, Lindke J, Black PM (1991) Predicting development of anticipatory emesis in cancer patients: prospective examination of eight characteristics. J Pain Symptom Manage 6:215–223

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Morrow GR, Roscoe JA, Kirshner JJ, Hynes HE, Rosenbluth RJ (1998) Anticipatory nausea and vomiting in the era of 5-HT3 antiemetics. Support Care Cancer 6:244–247

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Mundy EA, DuHamel KN, Montgomery GH (2003) The efficacy of behavioral interventions for cancer treatment-related side effects. Semin Clin Neuropsychiatr 8:253–275

    Google Scholar 

  27. Oddby-Muhrbeck E, Eksborg S, Bergendahl HT, Muhrbeck O, Lonnqvist PA (2002) Effects of clonidine on postoperative nausea and vomiting in breast cancer surgery. Anesthesiology 96:1109–1114

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Parker LA, Kemp SW (2001) Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) interferes with conditioned retching in Suncus murinus: an animal model of anticipatory nausea and vomiting (ANV). Neuroreport 12:749–7 51

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Raynaud G (1995) Current status of the activity of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in animal pharmacology. Ann Pharm Fr 53:19–23

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Razavi D, Delvaux N, Farvacques C, et al (1993) Prevention of adjustment disorders and anticipatory nausea secondary to adjuvant chemotherapy: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessing the usefulness of alprazolam. J Clin Oncol 11:1384–1390

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Redd WH, Andresen GV, Minagawa RY (1982) Hypnotic control of anticipatory emesis in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. J Consult Clin Psychol 50:14–19

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Redd WH, Montgomery GH, DuHamel KN (2001) Behavioral intervention for cancer treatment side effects. J Natl Cancer Inst 93:810–823

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Stockhorst U, Klosterhalfen S, Klosterhalfen W, Winkelmann M, Steingrueber HJ (1993) Anticipatory nausea in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: classical conditioning etiology and therapeutical implications. Integr Physiol Behav Sci 28:177–181

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Stockhorst U, Wiener JA, Klosterhalfen S, Klosterhalfen W, Aul C, Steingruber HJ (1998) Effects of overshadowing on conditioned nausea in cancer patients: an experimental study. Physiol Behav 64:743–753

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Stockhorst U, Spennes-Saleh S, Korholz D, Gobel U, Schneider ME, Steingruber HJ, Klosterhalfen S (2000) Anticipatory symptoms and anticipatory immune responses in pediatric cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: features of a classically conditioned response? Brain Behav Immun 14:198–218

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Vasterling J, Jenkins RA, Tope DM, Burish TG (1993) Cognitive distraction and relaxation training for the control of side effects due to cancer chemotherapy. J Behav Med 16:65–80

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Watson M, Meyer L, Thomson A, Osofsky S (1998) Psychological factors predicting nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients on chemotherapy. Eur J Cancer 34:831–837

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Weddington WW, Miller NJ, Sweet DL (1984) Anticipatory nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy. J Psychosom Res 28:73–77

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Wilcox PM, Fetting JH, Nettesheim KM, Abeloff MD (1982) Anticipatory vomiting in women receiving cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-FU (CMF) adjuvant chemotherapy for breast carcinoma. Cancer Treat Rep 66:1601–1604

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Yugin L (1989) Treating patients with nervous vomiting in the dental office by point-stimulating therapy. Spec Care Dentist 9:27–28

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IMO Clinique de Genolier, 1, route du Muids, CH-1272, Genolier, Switzerland

    Matti S. Aapro

  2. School of Nursing, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

    Alexander Molassiotis

  3. Cancer Center, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia

    Ian Olver

Authors
  1. Matti S. Aapro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alexander Molassiotis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ian Olver
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matti S. Aapro.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aapro, M.S., Molassiotis, A. & Olver, I. Anticipatory nausea and vomiting. Support Care Cancer 13, 117–121 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-004-0745-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-004-0745-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation