Placebo power: personalized suggestions may ease pain
NCT ID NCT04669093
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether placebo suggestions work better when they match a person's natural motivational style—either focusing on promoting good feelings or preventing pain. Sixty healthy adults will receive a plain hand cream but be told it's a pain reliever, with suggestions tailored to their style. Researchers will measure pain ratings, expectations, and facial expressions to see if the match makes a difference.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Placebo cream (hand cream) with behavioral suggestions
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward more effective, personalized ways to use placebos for pain relief.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study in healthy volunteers, not patients. The results may not apply to real-world pain conditions.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Dartmouth College
Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755, United States
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