The Claim

In adults with irritable bowel syndrome, double-blind placebo treatment is not significantly associated with baseline levels of visceral sensitivity or pain catastrophizing.

Source: Psychological Predictors of Response to Open-label versus Double-blind Placebo in a Randomized Controlled Trial in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
71score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Correlation
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In adults with irritable bowel syndrome, receiving a placebo without knowing it does not correlate with their baseline levels of internal pain sensitivity or tendency to focus on pain.

See the scientific wording

In adults with irritable bowel syndrome, double-blind placebo treatment shows no significant association with baseline levels of visceral sensitivity or pain catastrophizing, suggesting that psychological traits influencing open-label placebo response do not play a detectable role in placebo effects under deception.

Why this might work

When a person takes a fake treatment without knowing it's fake, their body responds based on learned expectations tied to medical rituals, not their current level of gut sensitivity or negative thoughts about pain.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Psychological Predictors of Response to Open-label versus Double-blind Placebo in a Randomized Controlled Trial in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

    When people with IBS take a fake pill without knowing it’s fake, whether they’re anxious about their gut or feel hopeless doesn’t affect if they feel better. But if they know it’s fake, those traits do matter. So, hiding the truth makes psychological traits irrelevant to the placebo effect.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.