In this free webinar, learn how placebo response and measurement variability can affect signal detection in major depressive disorder (MDD) trials. The featured speakers will discuss how study design, patient selection, blinding, endpoint selection and rating practices can influence the observed drug-placebo difference. Attendees will also explore how participant-, rater-, site- and study-level data can help identify risks to endpoint quality and distinguish meaningful clinical change from pseudo-improvement.
TORONTO, Aug. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Placebo response remains one of the most significant challenges in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) clinical trials, often obscuring the ability to detect true treatment effects. This webinar explores placebo response not as a single psychological phenomenon, but as an emergent property of the clinical trial system. Factors including study design, patient selection, blinding, treatment allocation, endpoint selection and measurement practices all influence the observed drug-placebo difference.
Rather than focusing exclusively on reducing placebo response, the challenge lies in distinguishing meaningful clinical change from measurement noise and other non-treatment influences captured by clinical outcome assessments. Attendees will be introduced to a signal intelligence framework for interpreting these influences. The session will examine how trial teams can assess whether observed improvement is clinically coherent, identify where treatment signal may be weakened and use participant-, rater-, site- and study-level data to guide targeted interventions.
Register for this webinar to learn how MDD trials can improve signal detection by distinguishing meaningful clinical change from placebo response and measurement noise.
Join experts from Cogstate, Luka Lucić, PhD, Senior Director, Clinical Science, Psychiatry; and Svenja Wacker, PhD, Neuropsychology Science Director, for the live webinar on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 11am EDT (5pm CEST / EU-Central).
For more information, or to register for this event, visit Understanding Placebo Response: Improving Signal Detection in MDD Trials.
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