Medical researchers from Sydney University's Brain Dynamics Centre have launched a world-first study that could lead to a dramatic improvement in how people are treated medically for depression.
More than 2000 people are being recruited from around the globe to take part in the study, titled "iSPOT-D: International Study to Predict Optimised Treatment - in Depression".
The study, sponsored by Brain Resource, will work with people who have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) to identify genetic, brain and cognitive markers that can predict specific responses to a range of antidepressants including sertraline, escitalopram, venlafaxine.
"This ground breaking study, which is being conducted at 20 research centres around the world, may change the way in which personalised medicine is implemented in depression," says University of Sydney Professor Lea Williams and director of the Brain Dynamics Centre.
Principal Investigator on the Study, Dr Anthony Harris said "At the moment, there are no objective predictors of how some one will respond to antidepressants in MDD, and successful treatment relies greatly on 'trial and error,''.
"Currently there is a `one size fits all' approach to making treatment decisions and anti depressants are presumed to be effective for all patients."