NCT Number: NCT07480486
The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether using pharmacogenetic testing to guide antidepressant treatment can improve outcomes in adults with major depressive disorder in Morocco. Depression is a common mental health condition, and finding the most effective antidepressant for a patient can take time. Some individuals do not respond well to the first medication prescribed or may experience side effects.
Pharmacogenetic testing examines genetic variations that can influence how a person processes certain medications. Information about genes involved in drug metabolism, such as CYP2D6 and CYP2C19, may help clinicians choose antidepressants and adjust doses more appropriately for each patient.
The main question this study aims to answer is whether treatment guided by pharmacogenetic test results leads to higher remission rates of depressive symptoms compared with usual clinical care.
In this study, participants diagnosed with major depressive disorder will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. In the pharmacogenetic-guided group, clinicians will receive the patient's genetic test results and may use this information to guide antidepressant selection and dosing. In the usual care group, antidepressant treatment will be prescribed according to standard clinical practice without access to pharmacogenetic information.
Participants will receive antidepressant treatment and will be followed for 12 weeks. During this period, depressive symptoms will be evaluated using standardized clinical questionnaires, including the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Information on treatment response, medication tolerance, and adverse effects will also be collected.
This study aims to provide evidence on the potential role of pharmacogenetic-guided treatment in improving depression management and to support the development of personalized medicine approaches in psychiatric care in Morocco.
Trial opening soon.
Get Notified18 year and older
All sexes
Interventional
Not applicable
Rabat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, 40000, Morocco
Abderrazzak Ouanass, MD
SUB_INVESTIGATOR
Elmostafa El Fahime, PhD
SUB_INVESTIGATOR
Meriem Atarki, PhD Candidate
CONTACT
Meriem Atarki, PhD Candidate
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Siham Belbachir, MD
SUB_INVESTIGATOR
CONTACT
Healthy volunteers accepted: No
Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.
Inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
Pharmacogenetic testing used to support personalized antidepressant treatment selection and dose adjustment according to the validated laboratory platform and applicable pharmacogenetic recommendations.
Other names: PGx-guided prescribing
Participants in the control group will receive standard antidepressant treatment according to routine clinical practice. Treatment decisions, including antidepressant selection and dose adjustments, will be made by the treating clinician without access to pharmacogenetic test results
Other names: Standard Clinical Care
Time frame: 12 weeks post-randomization
Severity of depressive symptoms assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17), a clinician-rated scale ranging from 0 to 52, where higher scores indicate greater depression severity and worse outcomes. The outcome will be analyzed as the change in HAM-D17 total score from baseline to 12 weeks post-randomization. A greater decrease in score reflects greater clinical improvement.
Time frame: 12 weeks post-randomization
Depression remission at 12 weeks post-randomization, assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17), a clinician-rated scale ranging from 0 to 52, where higher scores indicate greater depression severity and worse outcomes. Remission is defined as a HAM-D17 total score of 7 or less. The outcome will be analyzed as the proportion of participants meeting remission criteria at week 12.
Time frame: 12 weeks post-randomization
Treatment response at 12 weeks post-randomization, assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17), a clinician-rated scale ranging from 0 to 52, where higher scores indicate greater depression severity and worse outcomes. Response is defined as a reduction of 50 percent or more in HAM-D17 total score from baseline to week 12. The outcome will be analyzed as the proportion of participants meeting response criteria.
Time frame: 12 weeks post-randomization
Tolerability of antidepressant treatment assessed using the Frequency, Intensity, and Burden of Side Effects Rating (FIBSER) scale. The FIBSER evaluates three domains (frequency, intensity, and burden of side effects), each scored from 0 to 6, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 18, where higher total scores indicate greater side effect burden and worse tolerability outcomes.
Time frame: 12 weeks post-randomization
Global clinical improvement assessed using the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale, a clinician-rated instrument scored from 1 to 7, where 1 indicates very much improved and 7 indicates very much worse. Lower scores reflect better clinical outcomes.
Time frame: 24 weeks post-randomization
Sustained remission of depressive symptoms from 12 to 24 weeks post-randomization, assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17), a clinician-rated scale ranging from 0 to 52, where higher scores indicate greater depression severity and worse outcomes. Sustained remission is defined as meeting remission criteria, defined as a HAM-D17 total score of 7 or less, at 12 weeks and remaining in remission at 24 weeks. The outcome will be analyzed as the proportion of participants maintaining remission across both time points.
Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.
Mohammed V University in Rabat
Other
Pharmacogenetic-Guided Antidepressant Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Morocco
Acronym: PGX-MDD
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View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.
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