Placebo Impacts Sleep and Pain Modulation in Chronic Pain

This study is looking at how open-label placebo pills (empty capsules made of microcrystalline cellulose) might help people with chronic pain, specifically those with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Researchers want to see if taking these placebo pills, especially with guidance on how placebos work, can reduce chronic pain intensity and improve sleep quality. You might be able to join if you are 18-88 years old, speak English, have had TMD for at least 3 months, and have a smartphone. The study will measure your chronic pain intensity and sleep efficiency daily over 45 days to see if these improve.

Study design
This is a randomized clinical trial with 111 participants. You would be assigned to one of three groups: open-label placebo with expectation management, open-label placebo only, or standard care.
What's involved
You would participate in a 2-day phenotyping phase, including an in-person visit and at-home monitoring, followed by a 45-day intervention phase.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your chronic pain intensity and sleep efficiency will be measured daily over the 45-day intervention phase.

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NCT06225817

Placebo Impacts Sleep and Pain Modulation in Chronic Pain

Recruiting
NAAges 18–88InterventionalTreatment
University of Maryland, Baltimore
~111 participants
Updated 2026-06-17 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Open-label placebo pills

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Chronic pain intensity
Measured over Daily over the 45 days
+1 more outcome measured
Chronic Pain
Headache
1 sites across 1 states
Maryland1

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age ( 18-88 years old)
English speaker (written and spoken)
TMD for at least 3 months
Grade Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS) ≥1
Smartphone/text messaging capability

Exclusion

Present or past degenerative neuromuscular disease
Cardiovascular, neurological diseases, pulmonary abnormalities, kidney disease, liver disease, history of cancer within past 3 years
Any personal (or family first degree) history of mania, schizophrenia, or other psychoses
Severe psychiatric condition (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, autism) leading to hospitalization within the last 3 years.
Lifetime alcohol/drug dependence or alcohol/drug abuse in past 3 months
Pregnancy or breast feeding
Impaired or uncorrected hearing
  • Chronic pain intensityDaily over the 45 days

    Chronic pain intensity will be measured using visual analog scale ranging from 0=no pain at all to 100=maximum tolerable pain

  • Sleep efficiencyDaily over the 45 days

    Sleep efficiency will be measured using actigraphy motion watch ranging from 0%=efficient at all to 100% maximum efficient sleep