Open-label placebo for non-specific pain in the emergency department (OLP EM): study protocol for a mixed-method randomised control feasibility study in Switzerland.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Non-specific pain (NSP), defined as pain without a clear pathological cause, is a common presentation in the emergency department (ED). There is no universally accepted analgesic strategy, but non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen are often prescribed. However, the established efficacy of NSAIDs for NSP is limited. Additionally, NSAIDs are associated with an increased risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, acute kidney injury and cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction and stroke. There is increasing evidence supporting the analgesic effects of open-label placebo (OLP), defined as placebo administered to patients without deception, in a broad variety of settings. Accordingly, OLP could be a safer, effective analgesic treatment

SUBMITTER: Degen B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11938250 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature