Beneficial effects of double-blind placebos were found to be high in hot flush trials. Recent studies demonstrating the efficacy of placebos without concealment provide a possible way to administer placebos in accordance with ethical and clinical values.~The objective of the study is to determine whether an open-label placebo (OLP) treatment is efficacious in alleviating hot flushes and bother among peri- and postmenopausal women.~In this assessor-blinded, randomized-controlled trial, women with ≥5 daily moderate to severe hot flushes of at least moderate bother are assigned 1:1 to a 4-week OLP treatment or no treatment. Both groups are informed about study objectives including a briefing about the inert nature of placebo pills, why OLP might be effective and the importance of the control group. To explore the duration and maintenance of placebo effects, participants in the OLP group are randomized a second time and divided into two subgroups who either discontinue (OLP 4wk) or continue the OLP treatment (OLP 8wk) for another 4 weeks. All participants receive three study visits: at enrolment, baseline (1 week later), and at post-treatment. A fourth study visit is conducted at 8-week follow-up with the two subgroups OLP 4wk and OLP 8wk. Qualitative interviews about subjective experiences with the OLP treatment are conducted with n = 8 women.~This trial will contribute to the evaluation of OLP treatments in clinical practice and further our understanding about the magnitude of placebo effects in hot flush treatments.
It has been long viewed that placebos cannot be administered in accordance with ethical values because deception is instrumental to the placebo effect. This notion has been shaken up by studies on open-label placebos, showing that placebos can lead to positive effects even though their inert nature is disclosed.~Beneficial effects of double-blind placebos were found to be high in hot flush trials.~The objective of the study is to determine whether an open-label placebo (OLP) treatment is efficacious in alleviating hot flushes and bother among peri- and postmenopausal women.