The Effects of Open-label Placebos on Acute Stress
Starting soon · Not applicable · Has a placebo group
Conditions studied: Acute Stress, Stress
In brief
The goal of this study is to find out whether an open-label placebo nasal spray can reduce stress among individuals engaging in a high-stress canyon swing. The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1) Does an open-label placebo increase likelihood of participants completing another jump? 2) Does the placebo affect how long it takes participants to jump, reduce the reported stress levels before the jump 3) Does the placebo change how enjoyable participants find the jump? Researchers will compare participants who receive an open-label placebo nasal spray (a spray that contains no active medication and is clearly described as a placebo) with participants who receive no treatment (control). The aim is to see whether the placebo nasal spray can increase likelihood of participants completing another jump, reduce reported stress and improve participants overall enjoyment of the jump. Participants will: * Complete a short questionnaire before they jump * Either self administer a placebo nasal spray (one spray in each nostril) right before stepping through the gate to jump, or receive no treatment (control). * Complete a short questionnaire after completing the jump * Whether they complete another jump will be noted
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07522437
- Run by
- University of Auckland, New Zealand
- People needed
- 260
- Starts
- 2026-04-01
- Expected to finish
- 2026-11-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-04-13
Who can join
Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Signed-up to complete the canyon swing
- Aged 18 years and over
- Able to speak and understand English
- Comfortable being randomised to either the open-label placebo or no-treatment control condition
You may not qualify if…
- Under 18 years of age
- Unable to speak or understand English
- Unable to provide informed consent
Where it is running
- Canyon Swing — Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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