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Individual Differences in Placebo Analgesic Effects
Sponsor: Trustees of Dartmouth College
Summary
This study examines the effects of placebo suggestions tailored to match or mismatch individual participants' motivational styles-an issue of person-situation 'fit' with important effects in public health settings, but which has been ignored in past research.
Official title: Person by Situation Interaction: Matching Suggestions to Participants' Motivational Styles
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 55 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
60
Start Date
2026-09-30
Completion Date
2027-12-31
Last Updated
2025-12-09
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Placebo cream- "promotion" suggestion
Over-the-counter hand cream will be applied to participants' skin, but they will be told that they are given a highly efficient topical analgesic cream. The suggestion will be based on a "promotion" approach (promoting good feelings).
Placebo cream- "prevention" suggestion
Over-the-counter hand cream will be applied to participants' skin, but they will be told that they are given a highly efficient topical analgesic cream. The suggestion will be based on a "prevention" approach (preventing pain).
Control cream
In a control condition, with the same cream as in the placebo interventions, participants will be instructed that the cream is a control cream with no effects.
Locations (1)
Dartmouth College
Hanover, New Hampshire, United States