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NCT01103271 · ClinicalTrials.gov registry record · Phase 2

Pilot Study of Open-label Placebo to Treat Major Depressive Disorder

A Phase 2 study of Major Depressive Disorder, sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital.

Completed
Registry status
Phase 2
Development phase
20
Enrollment target
1
Study location

NCT01103271: Completed Phase 2 study of Major Depressive Disorder, sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital.

NCT01103271 is a Phase 2 study of Major Depressive Disorder that has completed, run by Massachusetts General Hospital. The registered enrollment target is 20 participants, below the 377-participant average among 282 other Major Depressive Disorder trials with a reported enrollment target (95% lower). The trial reports 1 study location across 1 state. According to ClinicalTrials.gov, the official US trial registry.

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The verdict

NCT01103271, a Phase 2 study of Major Depressive Disorder, has completed, sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital.

COMPLETED
Registry status
Phase 2
Development phase
20 participants
Enrollment target
1
Study location

Study Summary

Placebo pills (pills with no active ingredients) have been shown in research studies to somehow produce self-healing processes. The purpose of this study is to determine whether people will be willing to enter an open-label non-deceptive placebo treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and whether open-label placebo can be effective for treating MDD in the context of a supportive physician-patient relationship.

Primary Outcome

The primary outcome measure is feasibility, which was operationalized as the number of in-person screens for this study.

Conditions Studied

Interventions

  • OTHER Open-label Placebo

Study Locations (1)

Massachusetts

  • Massachusetts General Hospital - Boston

Trial Details

FieldValue
Enrollment Target 20 participants
Start Date 2010-05
Est. Completion 2011-05
Phase Phase 2
Massachusetts General Hospital

2,032 total trials

What the finished NCT01103271 record still lists

NCT01103271 is an interventional study that assigns participants to a tested intervention. The registry caps enrollment at 20 participants, a relatively small participant target, below the 377-participant average among 282 other Major Depressive Disorder trials with a reported enrollment target (95% lower).

The record links to 1 condition, with Major Depressive Disorder appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 1 intervention - of which Open-label Placebo is the first listed.

NCT01103271 reports a single indexed study location in Massachusetts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is clinical trial NCT01103271 about?

NCT01103271 is a clinical study titled "Pilot Study of Open-label Placebo to Treat Major Depressive Disorder". Placebo pills (pills with no active ingredients) have been shown in research studies to somehow produce self-healing processes. The purpose of this study is to determine whether people will be willing to enter an open-label non-deceptive placebo treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and whet...

What is the current status of trial NCT01103271?

This trial is currently completed. It is a Phase 2 study. The enrollment target is 20 participants. The study started on 2010-05. Estimated completion is 2011-05.

What conditions does trial NCT01103271 study?

This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Major Depressive Disorder.

What interventions are being tested in trial NCT01103271?

The interventions under investigation include: Open-label Placebo (OTHER).

Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT01103271?

This trial is sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital, which has 2,032 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Where is trial NCT01103271 being conducted?

This trial has 1 study location across Massachusetts. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.

Similar trials for Major Depressive Disorder

Matched on the same primary condition, ranked to surface studies in the same phase first, then by recruiting status, no relevance scoring or editorial curation.

Where NCT01103271's enrollment target sits among peer trials

20 243rd of 282 higher than 34 of 282 other Major Depressive Disorder trials

participants (enrollment target), bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more other Major Depressive Disorder trials. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source ClinicalTrials.gov registry export · 2026-08-08

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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01103271, the US trial registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine. NCT01103271 (small enrollment · single site footprint · completed) retrieved and formatted by PlainTrial, see methodology.