Sugar pills for pain? new study tests honest placebos for jaw disorder sufferers
NCT ID NCT06225817
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study is testing whether open-label placebo pills—capsules with no active ingredients that patients know are fake—can reduce chronic pain and improve sleep in people with temporomandibular disorder (TMD). About 111 participants will be split into three groups: one gets the placebo plus a discussion about expectations, one gets the placebo alone, and one continues standard care. Researchers will track pain levels, mood, and sleep quality over 45 days to see if the power of belief alone can make a real difference.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
open-label placebo pills (empty capsules made of microcrystalline cellulose)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could show that simply believing a treatment works can help ease chronic pain and improve sleep, offering a low-risk option for managing symptoms.
What could go wrong
This is an early-stage study with only 111 participants, and the placebo effect is unpredictable. The pills have no active ingredients, so any benefit depends entirely on the mind-body response, which may not work for everyone.
Disclaimer
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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University of Maryland Baltimore School of Nursing
RECRUITINGBaltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Contact