Brain mechanisms of reinforced placebo pill responses in chronic pain. (NCCIH R21)
Amount
Not specified
Deadline✓ Verified
Jul 31, 2028
Funder
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Eligible
open to all
About This Grant
Abstract: We propose a proof-of-concept randomized and partially blinded trial to identify brain mechanisms for placebo pill responses when reinforced by cues and instructions. We will concentrate on chronic back pain patients (CBP) who have a large unmet need to properly control their daily pain, which exacts a huge toll on the individual and society and continues to contribute to the ongoing opioid crisis. Although mechanisms of placebo have been extensively studied in experimental settings, there is minimal knowledge of brain processes that control clinical placebo responses. Pain-relieving drug consumption is ubiquitous in chronic pain patients, even in those who pursue non-pharmacological treatments. The routines for drug consumption, however, remain open-ended and dependent on individuals' momentary decisions. Here, we test the concept of enhancing the placebo pill response by creating multiple feedback loops and reinforcement cues between daily back pain ratings and placebo pill
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