Honest placebos: a new way to fight the opioid crisis?
NCT ID NCT06350786
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether giving people with chronic pain a placebo pill—told openly that it's a placebo—can help them safely reduce their opioid painkiller use. 86 participants will either receive the placebo alongside a mind-body program or just electronic monitoring for 6 weeks. The goal is to lower daily opioid doses and ease withdrawal symptoms.
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
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a safe, non-drug way to help people cut down on opioid painkillers without increasing pain or withdrawal.
What could go wrong
This is a small early-stage trial with only 86 people. The placebo effect is unpredictable, and results may not apply to everyone. There is also a risk that pain or withdrawal symptoms could worsen.
Disclaimer
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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.
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: •••••@•••••
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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University Hospital Zurich, Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine
RECRUITINGZurich, Canton of Zurich, 8006, Switzerland
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••