Placebo effect

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Single Injection of Saline Relieves Chronic Back Pain for a Year, Study Shows

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery showing that a single placebo injection can provide significant relief from chronic back pain for up to a year. Unlike typical placebo studies, where patients are unaware they are receiving a placebo, participants in this study were fully informed that the injection contained no active ingredients. Despite this, the results revealed remarkable benefits, challenging long-held beliefs about how placebos work.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open, involved 101 adults aged 21 to 70 suffering from chronic back pain. Half of the participants received a saline injection—openly labeled as a placebo—while the other half continued with their standard care. The researchers found that those who received the placebo injection experienced significant pain relief for up to one month, with some benefits lasting as long as a year.

The research team, led by Yoni Ashar, a neuroscience professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, was particularly interested in the brain mechanisms that contributed to this effect. Functional MRI scans revealed that the placebo group had more pronounced brain responses in pain-regulating areas compared to the usual care group.

Participants in the placebo group underwent a special treatment program designed to enhance the effects of the placebo. In addition to receiving the injection, they engaged in empathetic and validating conversations with a physician from the research team. They were informed that placebos could trigger nonconscious brain pathways to promote natural healing, even though the injections contained no medicinal substances.

Despite knowing they were receiving a placebo, participants still experienced substantial improvements in their pain levels. “The placebo effect is part of every treatment or procedure that advances healing,” Ashar explained. He emphasized that beliefs play a powerful role in the healing process, even in the absence of active medical treatments.

The placebo injection's effects on pain intensity were most significant within the first month, with long-term benefits for associated conditions like depression, anxiety, and sleep disruptions lasting for up to a year. Interestingly, no adverse effects were reported from the placebo injections, and the psychological benefits were profound.

The power of suggestion was further illustrated in a 2007 study cited by Ashar, where hotel maids were informed that their daily work met the Surgeon General’s exercise recommendations. This led to noticeable health improvements, including weight loss and reduced blood pressure, despite no changes in their physical activity. This study supports the idea that the mind-body connection can significantly impact health outcomes, even without direct physical interventions.

This research sheds light on how openly prescribed placebos can be used as a viable treatment option for chronic conditions. It also raises important questions about the future of pain management and the role of patient belief in healing.

Source: Single Placebo Injection Improved Chronic Back Pain for 1 Year: Study | The Epoch Times