Appearances are not deceptive: clinical evidence and new research approaches to open-label placebo

Der Nervenarzt
Y Nestoriuc, Julian Kleine-Borgmann

Abstract

The efficacy of placebo effects is proven in experimental, clinical and meta-analytical studies. However, harnessing placebo effects in clinical treatment contexts is hampered legally and ethically, since it has been considered necessary to conceal the inert nature of a placebo application. Interestingly, the results of recently published small, randomized trials suggest that patients can experience symptom relief after taking pills that they know lack any medication. In particular, these so-called open-label placebos (OLP) improved strongly fluctuating and individually distressing complaints such as gastrointestinal, neurological, psychosomatic and pain symptoms. Although the mechanisms are largely unknown, the open-label placebo application might be a promising way of fostering placebo effects in clinical settings. Initial study protocols already provide schedules for OLP use as an additional treatment in opioid use disorders. Likewise, the reduction of side effects, conversion effects or withdrawal symptoms through OLP applications in pharmacologically active treatments appear to serve as appropriate therapy goals. Further mechanistic studies are urgently needed to investigate the thus far only hypothetically proposed underl...Continue Reading

References

Jan 4, 2008·Child: Care, Health and Development·A D Sandler, J W Bodfish
Aug 3, 2012·Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics·John M KelleyMaurizio Fava
Mar 2, 2013·Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery·Paul EnckWinfried Rief
Jul 4, 2013·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Sara Chandros HullFranklin G Miller
Jan 10, 2014·Science Translational Medicine·Slavenka Kam-HansenRami Burstein
May 17, 2015·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Karin JensenMartin Ingvar
Feb 4, 2016·Bioethics·Charlotte BleaseTed J Kaptchuk
Oct 31, 2016·Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics·Michael SchaeferClaudia Denke
Apr 30, 2017·Journal of Evidence-based Medicine·James E G CharlesworthJeremy Howick
Mar 17, 2018·Annals of Behavioral Medicine : a Publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine·Jason El BrihiKate Faasse
Sep 14, 2018·Annals of Behavioral Medicine : a Publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine·Ashwin MathurKeith J Petrie
Oct 4, 2018·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Ted J Kaptchuk, Franklin G Miller
Oct 10, 2018·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Eric S ZhouChristopher J Recklitis
Apr 26, 2019·Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association·Kari A LeibowitzAlia J Crum
Jun 28, 2019·BMJ Evidence-based Medicine·Charlotte R BleaseCosima Locher

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jul 10, 2020·Der Nervenarzt·R KlingerU Bingel

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.