Open-Label Placebo Offers Effective Pain Relief In Kids with IBS: JAMA

In a multicenter crossover randomized study, the researchers included 30 children ages 8 to 18 to receive 3 weeks of twice-daily placebo treatment with 1.5 mL of liquid (containing mostly sucrose) for 3 weeks, followed by a 3-week control period, or to have the control first followed by the placebo. They used hyoscyamine as rescue medication. The major outcome assessed was the mean daily pain score during each of the interventions, measured on a 0- to 100-mm visual analogue scale, where higher scores indicated greater pain. They further assessed the number of rescue medications taken during each intervention.

Key findings of the study:

• Upon analysis, the researchers found that the mean (SD) pain scores were significantly lower during OLP treatment compared with the control period (39.9 [18.9] vs 45.0 [14.7]; difference, 5.2).
• They further noted that patients took nearly twice as many hyoscyamine pills during the control period compared with during the OLP period (mean [SD] number, 3.8 [5.1] pills vs 2.0 [3.0] pills; difference, 1.8 pills).

The authors concluded, "During OLP, patients with functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome reported significantly less pain and took significantly fewer pain medications. Open-label placebo may be an effective treatment for children and adolescents with functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome."

For further information:

DOI:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.5750