Finding the Best Depression Treatment Using Blood Tests

Plain-English translation of NCT06054321 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated April 2024 · Translation generated August 2026 · How we translate trials

Read our Major Depressive Disorder research guide →

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing whether blood tests can help doctors choose the best antidepressant treatment for each person. Researchers will use blood tests to predict whether you're likely to respond well to a single antidepressant (escitalopram) or whether you might need a combination approach with multiple medications added over time. The goal is to get you feeling better faster by matching you with the treatment strategy that's most likely to work for your specific case.

Depression doesn't respond the same way in everyone, and some people struggle to get better with just one medication. This trial exists to figure out whether blood tests can predict upfront which patients will need more complex treatment plans, so doctors can avoid wasting time on approaches unlikely to work and get people the right help sooner.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 19 and 65 years old
you have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder by a study psychiatrist
you have moderate-to-severe depression symptoms (scoring 17 or higher on a standard depression rating scale)
you are able to understand the study and give informed consent
you are either starting antidepressant treatment now or have not taken psychiatric medications (except sleep aids or anti-anxiety drugs) in the past month

You likely don't qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorders
you currently have depression with psychotic features
you have a history of seizures or epilepsy
you have an unstable medical condition that cannot be managed safely
you are at severe risk of suicide or self-harm as assessed by the research team

What participation looks like

You'll have blood tests done at the start to help predict your treatment response. Then you'll be randomly assigned to either take a single antidepressant or follow a stepwise approach where additional medications are added if needed. You'll have check-in visits every 3 weeks where the research team will assess how you're doing and adjust your treatment plan based on your progress. Throughout the trial, you'll be monitored closely to make sure the medication is helping and that you're safe.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Aug 30, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

South Korea

Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju