Mindfulness combined with open-label placebo for chronic pain
Investigating the Feasibility of Combining Mindfulness Intervention and Open-Label Placebo Treatment for Chronic Pain
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY-TEMPE CAMPUS · NIH-11302707
This project tests whether adding an open-label placebo to a mindfulness program helps adults with chronic pain reduce pain and improve daily functioning.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY-TEMPE CAMPUS (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SCOTTSDALE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11302707 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you have ongoing chronic pain, you could be randomly assigned to a mindfulness program, an open-label placebo treatment, or both. The study is a single-site, three-arm randomized trial at Arizona State University that will collect measures of pain, function, and treatment acceptability. Researchers will follow participants over time to see whether the combination produces stronger or longer-lasting relief than either approach alone. The team will also monitor adherence and practical issues to determine whether the combined approach is feasible for broader use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults (21+) with ongoing chronic pain who can attend study visits and are willing to participate in mindfulness sessions and an open-label placebo protocol.
Not a fit: People with no pain sensation, those needing immediate opioid-level pain control, or anyone unwilling to engage in mindfulness practice or placebo procedures are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combined approach could offer adults with chronic pain a safer, non-opioid way to reduce pain and improve quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies show modest pain benefits from mindfulness and promise from open-label placebo, but combining the two is a new approach being tested here.
Where this research is happening
SCOTTSDALE, UNITED STATES
- ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY-TEMPE CAMPUS — SCOTTSDALE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MUN, CHUNG JUNG — ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY-TEMPE CAMPUS
- Study coordinator: MUN, CHUNG JUNG
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.