Pharmacogenetic-Guided Treatment for Depression

(ADOPT PGx Trial)

No longer recruiting at 12 trial locations

Overseen By Deepak Voora, MD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Duke University

Must be taking: SSRIs

Disqualifiers: Psychosis, Dementia, Seizure, Bipolar, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 6 months

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if genetic information can improve antidepressant selection for people with depression. Participants will either receive immediate pharmacogenetic testing (a type of genetic testing) to guide their medication or standard care with testing after six months. The goal is to assess whether understanding how the body processes medicine can reduce depression symptoms. It suits individuals who have experienced depression symptoms for at least three months and are starting or adjusting their antidepressant medication. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research that could personalize depression treatment.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it mentions that participants should have recently started or revised SSRI therapy, or have an anticipated need for it, which suggests that continuing or adjusting current medications might be part of the study.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that using genetic information to select the right medication, known as pharmacogenetic testing, is generally safe. Studies have found that this testing can improve responses to antidepressants by matching the medication to individual body chemistry. These studies have reported no major safety issues.

Early research suggests that tools helping doctors make better medication choices, called clinical decision support, are also safe. Patients using these tools often experience faster improvement, with no serious side effects linked to them.

Overall, both pharmacogenetic testing and clinical decision support are safe and can enhance depression management. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about pharmacogenetic-guided treatment for depression because it personalizes medication choices based on individual genetic makeup. Unlike standard antidepressant treatments, which often involve trial and error with medications like SSRIs or SNRIs, this approach uses genetic testing to guide clinical decisions, potentially improving effectiveness and reducing side effects. The immediate pharmacogenetic testing arm offers real-time insights into genetic markers like CYP2D6 and CYP2C19, allowing healthcare providers to tailor antidepressant prescriptions more accurately. This precision in treatment selection could lead to faster relief from depressive symptoms and better overall outcomes for patients.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for depression?

This trial will compare immediate versus delayed pharmacogenetic testing for depression treatment. Research has shown that genetic testing can help customize depression treatment for each person. Studies have found that people with major depression who undergo this testing often experience faster improvement than those who do not. The testing helps avoid medications that might not work well due to individual drug metabolism. Overall, genetic testing can lead to better treatment outcomes by aligning medication choices with a person's unique genetic makeup. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Josh F. Peterson, MD

Principal Investigator

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Hrishikesh Chakraborty

Principal Investigator

Duke University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English or Spanish speakers aged 8 years and above with depression, who are starting or changing SSRI therapy at participating clinics. They must have had depressive symptoms for at least 3 months. Excluded are those too ill to consent, planning to move soon, with bipolar disorder, seizure disorders, certain genetic test results, psychosis, dementia or cognitive disabilities.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with depression.

Patients followed at psychiatry clinics or primary care clinics at an enrolling site (such as, but not limited to, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or Pediatrics)

I am 8 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

I am unable to understand or follow the study's procedures due to cognitive issues.

Have cognitive developmental delay and/or cognitive disability, including autism spectrum disorders (Note: ADHD is not an exclusion criteria)

I have a condition that causes seizures.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either immediate pharmacogenetic testing and genotype-guided anti-depressant therapy or standard care with 6-month delayed pharmacogenetic testing

6 months

Regular visits as per trial protocol

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Clinical decision support
• Pharmacogenetic testing

Trial Overview The Depression Trial compares immediate pharmacogenetic testing and tailored anti-depressant therapy against standard care with delayed testing. It aims to see if personalized treatment based on how a person's body processes SSRIs can better reduce depression symptoms.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Depression - Immediate PGx Testing Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Immediate genetic testing of CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 and clinical decisions support for antidepressant prescribing to the healthcare provider

Group II: Depression - Delayed PGx Testing Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Delayed genetic testing of CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 and return of results after the conclusion of the 6-month follow-up period

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Duke University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,495

Recruited

5,912,000+

University of Florida

Collaborator

Trials

1,428

Recruited

987,000+

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Collaborator

Trials

922

Recruited

939,000+

Indiana University School of Medicine

Collaborator

Trials

194

Recruited

181,000+

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Collaborator

Trials

933

Recruited

579,000+

National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

Collaborator

Trials

273

Recruited

299,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Pharmacogenomic testing in patients with major depressive disorder significantly improves response and remission rates at 8 and 12 weeks compared to standard treatment, with odds ratios indicating a 32% and 36% increase in response rates, respectively.

Patients receiving pharmacogenomic-guided treatment also experienced a notable reduction in medication changes within 30 days, suggesting that this approach leads to more consistent and effective treatment plans.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of pharmacogenomics testing guiding on clinical outcomes in major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCT. Wang, X., Wang, C., Zhang, Y., et al.[2023]

The GeneSight pharmacogenomic test significantly increases the likelihood of response and remission in patients with major depression, showing over double the improvement in depressive symptoms compared to standard treatment after 10 weeks.

Patients identified with severe gene-drug interactions who switched to genetically suitable medications experienced a notable improvement in their symptoms, highlighting the test's potential to optimize antidepressant therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A prospective, randomized, double-blind study assessing the clinical impact of integrated pharmacogenomic testing for major depressive disorder. Winner, JG., Carhart, JM., Altar, CA., et al.[2022]

In a clinical trial involving 100 patients with major depressive disorder, pharmacogenomic-based antidepressant treatment (PGATx) showed a significant improvement in depression scores compared to standard treatment, with a mean difference of -4.1 points on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.

PGATx also demonstrated better tolerability, with fewer patients dropping out due to adverse events compared to those receiving standard treatment, suggesting it may be a safer option for managing depression.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Pharmacogenomic-based Antidepressant Treatment for Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: Results from an 8-week, Randomized, Single-blinded Clinical Trial. Han, C., Wang, SM., Bahk, WM., et al.[2021]

The pharmacogenetic tool Neuropharmagen® significantly improves treatment outcomes for patients with depression, showing a 1.8-fold increase in the odds of clinical response compared to standard drug selection, based on a meta-analysis of 450 subjects.

In patients with moderate to severe depression, the effectiveness of pharmacogenetic-guided prescriptions is even greater, with an effect size of 0.42, indicating a 2.14-fold increase in the odds of response, suggesting this tool is particularly beneficial for more severe cases.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of a Pharmacogenetic Tool at Improving Treatment Efficacy in Major Depressive Disorder: A Meta-Analysis of Three Clinical Studies. Vilches, S., Tuson, M., Vieta, E., et al.[2020]

In a study of 352 patients with depression, pharmacogenetic testing was able to predict the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic medications with a significant correlation (p < 0.001).

However, the same testing did not effectively predict side effect tolerability, indicating that while it can help in choosing effective treatments, it may not provide insights into how well patients will tolerate those treatments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pharmacogenetic profile and major depressive and/or bipolar disorder treatment: a retrospective, cross-sectional study. Tonozzi, TR., Braunstein, GD., Kammesheidt, A., et al.[2022]

Pharmacogenetic-guided treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) resulted in higher quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and lower costs compared to standard care, with a cumulative effect of 2.07 QALYs for the pharmacogenetic group versus 1.97 QALYs for standard care over three years.

The pharmacogenetic test (IDGx) not only improved treatment outcomes but also saved $2,918 in direct medical costs and $1,680 in indirect costs, particularly benefiting patients with severe depression.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cost-Effectiveness of a Pharmacogenetic Test to Guide Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder. Groessl, EJ., Tally, SR., Hillery, N., et al.[2023]

Using pharmacogenetic testing to guide antidepressant treatment can improve response and tolerability in patients with major depressive disorder, as shown in a simulated trial with 100,000 subjects.

The cost-effectiveness of this approach becomes favorable when considering multiple treatment episodes, suggesting that incorporating genetic testing could be beneficial in clinical practice despite some limitations in the study design.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A model to incorporate genetic testing (5-HTTLPR) in pharmacological treatment of major depressive disorders. Serretti, A., Olgiati, P., Bajo, E., et al.[2015]

Citations

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Does Pharmacogenomic Testing Improve Clinical ... Results: Two nonrandomized, open-label, 8-week, prospective studies reported overall greater improvement in depressive symptom severity in the group of MDD ...

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results of a randomized, double-blind clinical trial | BMC ... PGx-guided treatment resulted in significant improvement of MDD patient's response at 12 weeks, dependent on the number of previously failed medication trials.

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Improving Mental Health Outcomes in Patients with Major ... Up to 75% of individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) may have residual symptoms such as amotivation or anhedonia, which prevent ...

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S138650562500098X

Clinical decision support systems in mental health This is the first review examining mental health professionals' experiences and views on CDSSs. We identified facilitators and barriers to adopting CDSSs.

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Development of the treatment prediction model in ... Data from 9042 adults with moderate to severe major depression from antidepressant clinical trials were used to train a deep learning model. On ...

10. psychiatrist.com psychiatrist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/artificial-intelligence-depression-medication-enhancement-AID-ME-cluster-randomized-trial-clinical-decision-support-system-personalized-depression-treatment-selection-management-24m15634.pdf

artificial-intelligence-depression-medication-enhancement- ... Patients in the active group improved faster; no serious adverse events were attributed to the intervention.