Background & Aims

There is an increasing body of evidence supporting the efficacy of open-label placebos in alleviating pain symptoms [for review: 1]. As a more ethical alternative to the traditional deceptive placebo, it becomes imperative to explore mechanisms and strategies for the effective utilization of open-label placebos. Therefore, this study aims to verify whether a non-deceptive placebo can be reinforced through direct experience in the form of operant conditioning. This learning approach was chosen because operant conditioning has demonstrated efficacy in inducing placebo hypoalgesia in previous studies [2,3].

Methods

The experiment consists of 4 groups: open-label suggestion and operant conditioning (OLS+OC), open-label suggestion alone (OLS), operant conditioning alone (OC), and a control group (natural history). The participants undergo the following phases of the study: calibration, pretest, manipulation (depending on the group), and posttest. The open-label suggestion is based on giving an honest rationale concerning the placebo (based on Kaptchuk’s instructions [4]). Moreover, during the conditioning, participants have a choice to activate or deactivate sham TENS device (placebo). Choosing activation of the placebo results in reduced pain intensity (therefore is rewarded), whereas deactivation of the TENS maintains the pain intensity at a constant level. Participants rate pain during the pretest, conditioning, and the testing phase on the NRS.

Results

Results will be presented during the upcoming conference.

Conclusions

Conclusions will be presented during the upcoming conference.

References

[1] van Lennep, J. H. P. A., Trossèl, F., Perez, R. S. G. M., Otten, R. H. J., van Middendorp, H., Evers, A. W. M., & Szadek, K. M. (2021). Placebo effects in low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. European journal of pain, 25(9), 1876–1897.

[2] Adamczyk, W. M., Wiercioch?Kuzianik, K., Bajcar, E. A., & B?bel, P. (2019). Rewarded placebo analgesia: a new mechanism of placebo effects based on operant conditioning. European Journal of Pain, 23(5), 923-935.

[3] Bieniek, H., & B?bel, P. (2023). Placebo hypoalgesia induced by operant conditioning: a comparative study on the effects of verbal, token-based, and social rewards and punishers. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 20346.

[4] Kaptchuk et al., (2010). Placebos without deception: a randomized controlled trial in irritable bowel syndrome. PLoS One, 5:e15591.

Presenting Author

Justyna Br?czyk

Poster Authors

Justyna Br?czyk

OTHR

Jagiellonian University

Lead Author

E-mail

Helena Bieniek

Jagiellonian Univeristy

Lead Author

E-mail

Karolina Wiercioch-Kuzianik

Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków

Lead Author

E-mail

Przemys?aw B?bel

Prof.

Jagiellonian University, Institute of Psychology, Pain Research Group

Lead Author

E-mail

Topics

  • Placebo