Study of Open-Label Placebo Injections to Reduce Acute Pain in Healthy Adults Aged 18 to 65

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating the effects of open-label placebo OLP injections on acute pain using a controlled experimental model that simulates wound pain with electrical pulses. This randomized crossover study aims to understand how OLP affects pain intensity, the duration of analgesia, and differences in outcomes when injections are given once, repeated at fixed times, or repeated on demand. The study includes healthy adult volunteers aged 18 to 65 years. Participants will undergo an experimental pain procedure where electrical stimulation is adjusted to cause moderate pain, rated 6 out of 10 on a numeric scale. In Part 1, participants receive one OLP injection after 20 minutes during one visit, with a no-treatment visit serving as control. In Part 2, participants are divided into groups receiving a single injection, two injections at fixed times, or two injections with the second given on demand. Each injection contains saline without active ingredients and is accompanied by an explanation about placebo effects. During the study, participants pain ratings and areas of pain sensitivity hyperalgesia and allodynia are measured repeatedly for up to 200 minutes after stimulation. Researchers track changes in pain over three hours after each OLP injection. The study monitors safety and collects subjective and objective pain data to evaluate the timing, effect size, and duration of OLP analgesia. Total participation includes multiple visits with randomized treatment order and follow-up assessments.

Boosting Open-Label Placebo Effects in Acute Induced Pain in Healthy Adults