Placebo prescriptions and fake treatments improve patient conditions
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 91/100
Clinical trials consistently demonstrate that placebo prescriptions—including transparently administered open-label placebos—can improve patient-reported conditions such as chronic pain, fatigue, and allergic symptoms.
Evidence for · 6
Open-label Placebo Treatment in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
2016 · cited by 366
This randomized controlled trial found that open-label placebo treatment elicited greater pain reduction and reduced disability in patients with chronic low back pain compared to treatment as usual.
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More for · 5
Open-Label Placebo Treatment for Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Randomized-Controlled Clinical Trial
2018 · cited by 123
This randomized-controlled trial demonstrated that open-label placebos significantly reduced fatigue severity and improved fatigue-disrupted quality of life in cancer survivors.
Why do open-label placebos work? A randomized controlled trial of an open-label placebo induction with and without extended information about the placebo effect in allergic rhinitis
2018 · cited by 102
This study showed that open-label placebos without deception can improve symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis.
Effects of open-label placebo on pain, functional disability and spine mobility in chronic back pain patients: a randomized controlled trial.
2019 · cited by 91
This trial demonstrated that a 3-week open-label placebo treatment significantly reduced pain intensity, functional disability, and depressive symptoms in chronic back pain patients.
Conditioned open-label placebo for opioid reduction after spine surgery: a randomized controlled trial
2021 · cited by 40
This randomized controlled trial found that conditioned open-label placebos reduced daily opioid use and worst pain scores in patients recovering from spine surgery.
Open-Label Placebo for the Treatment of Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial
2022 · cited by 20
This trial indicated that open-label placebos were efficacious in reducing cancer-related fatigue and fatigue clusters in patients with advanced cancer.