Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33594150›Full record

SynthesisScientific reports2021

Effects of open-label placebos in clinical trials: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Melina von Wernsdorff, Martin Loef, Brunna Tuschen-Caffier, Stefan Schmidt

Erratum issued 3 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 91 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
91citing papers in PubMed, 8 pooled it
14.3field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06350786 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Conditioned Open-label Placebos to Facilitate Opioid Reduction in Patients With Subacute or Chronic Pain Pain: a Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorCosima LocherRan2024 to 2026Enrolled86ConditionsChronic Pain, Subacute PainArmsP-Dragees blue Lichtenstein, Placebo dragees, Control group (EM)
NCT06365892 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Effectiveness of Conditioning + Open-label Placebo for the Management of Pain in Children Who Undergo Surgical Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of California, San FranciscoRan2024 to 2026Enrolled64ConditionsAdolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)Armsopen-label placebo, Treatment as usual
NCT07373210 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Conditioning, Open-label Placebo for Pain Management in Adolescents and Young Adults Undergoing Bernese Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO)

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of California, San FranciscoRan2026 to 2028Enrolled64ConditionsPeriacetabular Osteotomy, OpiatesArmsOpen-Label Placebo, Treatment as usual
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

91 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 166 citations in OpenAlex.

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  17. Comparison of two different Nasal Interfaces used in Non-Invasive Respiratory support in terms of Neonate comfort.Malawi medical journal : the journal of Medical Association of Malawi · 2024
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31 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Melina von WernsdorffDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 8, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
Martin LoefCHS-Institut, Berlin, Germany.
Brunna Tuschen-CaffierDepartment of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Stefan SchmidtDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hauptstr. 8, 79104, Freiburg, Germany. stefan.schmidt@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
University of Freiburg · DEIGES Institut · DEUniversity Medical Center Freiburg · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Open-label placebos (OLPs) are placebos without deception in the sense that patients know that they are receiving a placebo. The objective of our study is to systematically review and analyze the effect of OLPs in comparison to no treatment in clinical trials. A systematic literature search was carried out in February 2020. Randomized controlled trials of any medical condition or mental disorder comparing OLPs to no treatment were included. Data extraction and risk of bias rating were independently assessed. 1246 records were screened and thirteen studies were included into the systematic review. Eleven trials were eligible for meta-analysis. These trials assessed effects of OLPs on back pain, cancer-related fatigue, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, allergic rhinitis, major depression, irritable bowel syndrome and menopausal hot flushes. Risk of bias was moderate among all studies. We found a significant overall effect (standardized mean difference = 0.72, 95% Cl 0.39-1.05, p < 0.0001, I

Indexed as

PlacebosRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicHumansPlacebos

Identifiers

PMID33594150
PMCPMC7887232
OpenAlexW3131367894

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.