A Decision Tool Using Genetic Information to Choose Antidepressants for Depression
Tests a tool using genetic information to choose antidepressants for adults with depression.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Prescribing the Right Agent for Depression in Adults
Key facts
- Where
- Addis Ababa, EthiopiaSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 74 years old?
Source: NCT07796295, who can take part
Where in Ethiopia
- Amanuel Mental Specialized HospitalAddis Ababa, EthiopiaNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of Oxford
- Trial code
- NCT07796295
- Record updated
- 9 October 2026
- Original description
Depression is a common mental health problem affecting almost 300 million people worldwide. Antidepressants are recommended as one of the first line treatments for people with moderate-to-severe symptoms of depression. In our recent trial, PETRUSHKA, on the acute treatment of depression, we demonstrated that the PETRUSHKA Tool, an evidence-based shared decision support system to personalise antidepressant treatment, in comparison with usual care reduced by almost 40% the number of participants stopping their antidepressant early, also improving their depression and anxiety symptoms. To identify the best treatment for each individual, the PETRUSHKA Tool used clinical and demographic predictors. Pilot data show that genetic information can aid stratification of people experiencing depression and better target their treatment. Genetic data can be collected using low-cost DNA-sequencing technology in diverse clinical settings and low-resource environments. Hence, we hypothesised that individual-level pharmacogenomic information can further personalise antidepressant treatment. In this project called PRADA ("Prescribing the Right Agent for Depression in Adults"), we will develop and test in a global trial across Ethiopia, Pakistan and the UK, an evidence-based multimodal web-tool to help participants and clinicians choose the best pharmacological treatment for depression jointly, based on participant preferences and their individual clinical, demographic, cultural, and also genetic profile (PRADA Tool). We will compare the new tool with the PETRUSHKA Tool in a blind fashion, measuring adherence to antidepressant treatment, clinical response and quality of life over a 12-month follow-up.Read full original descriptionShow less
Prescribing the Right Agent for Depression in Adults (PRADA): a Double-blind, Randomised Controlled Trial Using a Web-based Multi-modal Clinical Decision Support System and Genetic Information to Personalise Antidepressant Treatment in Diverse Clinical Settings Across the Globe
Depression is a common mental health problem affecting almost 300 million people worldwide. Antidepressants are recommended as one of the first line treatments for people with moderate-to-severe symptoms of depression. In our recent trial, PETRUSHKA, on the acute treatment of depression, we demonstrated that the PETRUSHKA Tool, an evidence-based shared decision support system to personalise antidepressant treatment, in comparison with usual care reduced by almost 40% the number of participants stopping their antidepressant early, also improving their depression and anxiety symptoms. To identify the best treatment for each individual, the PETRUSHKA Tool used clinical and demographic predictors. Pilot data show that genetic information can aid stratification of people experiencing depression and better target their treatment. Genetic data can be collected using low-cost DNA-sequencing technology in diverse clinical settings and low-resource environments. Hence, we hypothesised that individual-level pharmacogenomic information can further personalise antidepressant treatment. In this project called PRADA ("Prescribing the Right Agent for Depression in Adults"), we will develop and test in a global trial across Ethiopia, Pakistan and the UK, an evidence-based multimodal web-tool to help participants and clinicians choose the best pharmacological treatment for depression jointly, based on participant preferences and their individual clinical, demographic, cultural, and also genetic profile (PRADA Tool). We will compare the new tool with the PETRUSHKA Tool in a blind fashion, measuring adherence to antidepressant treatment, clinical response and quality of life over a 12-month follow-up.
Inclusion: Aged 18-74 years inclusive; Willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the trial; Clinical primary diagnosis of major depressive episode, for which an antidepressant is clinically indicated; PHQ-9 score of at least 10; Willing and able to start antidepressant treatment as monotherapy; Able to understand and answer self-administered questionnaires in their local language.
Exclusion: Current or historical diagnosis (lifetime) of ADHD, bipolar disorder, dementia, mania/hypomania, psychosis/schizophrenia; Current or historical diagnosis (within 10 years) of any eating disorders, PTSD, OCD or alcohol/substance use disorder; Known diagnosis of arrhythmias (including Q-T prolongation, heart block), recent myocardial infarction (within 5 years), difficult-to-treat epilepsy, acute porphyrias; Taken an antidepressant in the preceding 4 weeks at a therapeutic dose; Treatment Resistant Depression (i.e., having tried 2 or more antidepressants for the same depressive episode at adequate dose and time); Requires urgent mental care or admission (including suicidal intent/plans); Concurrently enrolled in another investigational medicinal product (IMP) trial that, in the opinion of the investigator, is likely to interfere with the PRADA trial or an interventional trial about depression; Pregnant, planning pregnancy or lactating (self-reported); Unable to give blood sample for genetic analysis.