Placebo Effect in Pain and Pain Treatment - Volume I

Research in placebo studies has accelerated in recent years. While most studies employ placebos as a means of controlling for expectancy effects, placebo studies aim to understand the effect of placebos, per se. Placebos are associated with symptom reduction for a range of conditions, including pain. Research has examined whether placebos can be given openly, deceptively, or in a double-blind fashion to promote pain reduction among acute or chronic pain patients. The neurobiological correlates of the placebo effect have also been studied using fMRI and other technology.

Chronic pain is one of the most debilitating conditions worldwide, and safe pain treatment options are needed. Placebos, by their very nature, are safe. Research also suggests they are effective. A greater understanding of how placebos can be optimized for pain treatment could improve clinical outcomes. The goal of this Research Topic will be to publish both basic and translational work on the overlap of placebo studies with pain or pain treatment.

This Research Topic will consider any article related to the placebo effect/response in pain or pain treatment. Papers can be empirical studies, theoretical investigations, systematic reviews, or meta-analyses. We welcome work from both clinical and non-clinical populations. Possibilities include, but are not limited to:

1) The effect of open-label placebo for pain reduction
2) The neurobiology of placebo analgesia
3) Examinations of the placebo arm in pain treatment trials
4) Ethical considerations related to harnessing the placebo effect for pain treatment
5) Moderators of placebo analgesia