NCT06350786 Conditioned Open-label Placebos to Facilitate Opioid Reduction in Patients With Subacute or Chronic Pain Pain: a Randomized Controlled Trial
| NCT ID | NCT06350786 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | Cosima Locher |
| Condition | Chronic Pain |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 86 participants |
| Start Date | 2024-06-12 |
| Primary Completion | 2026-09-30 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 86 participants in total. It began in 2024-06-12 with a primary completion date of 2026-09-30.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
This study aims to evaluate whether the reduction of the daily morphine equivalent dose (MED) in patients with subacute and chronic pain can be decreased with an open-label placebo (OLP) intervention in comparison to an electronic monitoring (EM) control group. The participants will receive the intervention (OPL or EM) over the duration of six weeks. Diverse psychological and health measures will be assessed with questionnaires over the course of the intervention. Furthermore, evaluation outcomes, qualitative outcomes and safety outcomes will be assessed. It is hypothesized that the OLP-intervention group in comparison to the EM-control group will have a significantly lower consumption of MED over the course of the study. Furthermore, this study aims to evaluate whether the OLP intervention can reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms in comparison to the control group.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Signed Informed Consent * ≥ 18 years of age * German speaking * Pain lasting ≥ 4 weeks, including subacute pain (4-12 weeks) and chronic pain (\>12 weeks) * Opioid medication for pain management for ≥ 4 weeks * Oral intake of opioid medication * Motivation for opioid reduction * Participants have a primary treating physician who performs the reduction of the opioid medication * Having access to a computer or tablet with an email-account Exclusion Criteria: * Having psychotic symptoms * Suicidality * Cognitive impairment to everyday life * Planned surgery within the next two months that is expected to affect opioid intake * Known illegal drug or harmful alcohol consumption * Intolerance of the ingredients of the placebo pill (e.g., lactose, sucrose, corn-starch) * Serious health problems that make study participation impossible * Simultaneous participation in other studies with investigational drugs or pain specific interventions
Contact & Investigator
Cosima Locher, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
USZ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT06350786 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Chronic Pain. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT06350786 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT06350786 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at Cosima.Locher@usz.ch for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT06350786 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Zurich, Switzerland.
Who is sponsoring the NCT06350786 clinical trial?
NCT06350786 is sponsored by Cosima Locher. The principal investigator is Cosima Locher, PhD at USZ. The trial plans to enroll 86 participants.
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