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Bitcoin price started a fresh increase and traded to a new all-time high above the $109,000 zone. BTC is now consolidating and might aim for an increase

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Placebo used in a new study to treat moderate-to-severe lower back pain had no effect on pain or physical function over a three-month period, according to new research published in JAMA Network Open.

The study, which included 120 adults with lower back pain, also found that the use of the placebo did not influence participants' beliefs about the treatment or satisfaction with care.

The researchers, from the University of Washington in Seattle, said their findings are important because they add to a growing body of evidence that placebos alone may not provide lasting benefit for chronic pain.

"Our findings suggest that, at least in the short term, the use of a placebo in the setting of routine care for back pain does not appear to exert an effect on pain, physical function, or patient-reported outcomes," they wrote.

The researchers said they were surprised by their findings, given that previous studies have shown that placebos can have a significant impact on pain perception in the lab setting.

However, they said the new study was conducted in a real-world setting, which may explain why the effects of the placebo were smaller and did not last as long.

The researchers also noted that the study was relatively small and more research is needed to fully understand the role of placebos in pain management.

"These findings may not be generalizable to other patient populations, such as those with cancer pain or headache, or to other chronic pain conditions," they said.

"The short-term nature of this study also limits the detection of potential long-term effects of placebo on pain and function."

Despite the null findings, the researchers said their study highlights the importance of considering the psychological and social factors that may influence pain perception and response to treatment.

They said it is possible that the placebo group in their study experienced less improvement in pain and function because they had higher expectations for the treatment or were less satisfied with the care they received.

"It is also possible that the members of the placebo group had a less positive anticipation of the treatment effect or were less engaged in the treatment process," they said.

The researchers said they plan to conduct further studies to examine the role of these factors in determining the effects of placebos for chronic pain.

The new study is the latest to examine the role of placebos in treating chronic pain. A 2019 study published in the journal Science found that placebos could reduce pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

However, another study published in 2020 in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine found no evidence that placebos were effective for treating chronic low back pain.

The researchers said their findings have implications for the way chronic pain is treated.

"Despite the widespread interest in exploring the role of placebo effects in pain modulation, there is limited evidence to support the use of placebos in the setting of routine care for chronic pain," they said.

"Our findings add to a growing body of literature suggesting that, at least in the short term, placebos alone may not provide benefit for patients with chronic pain."