Pharmacist-guided pre-emptive pharmacogenetic testing in antidepressant therapy (PrePGx): study protocol for an
Céline K Stäuble1,2,3, Markus L Lampert2,3, Samuel Allemann2
1Biopharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Trials
|December 15, 2021
Summary
Pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing improves antidepressant selection for major depressive disorder (MDD) patients, potentially enhancing treatment response rates and reducing suffering. This trial guides personalized psychiatric care.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Pharmacology
- Genetics and Personalized Medicine
Background:
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) affects many, with only 50% responding to initial antidepressant treatment.
- Improving antidepressant efficacy is crucial for reducing patient suffering and healthcare costs.
- Pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing can guide antidepressant selection to improve outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacist-guided PGx testing in improving antidepressant treatment response rates.
- To compare PGx-guided antidepressant selection against standard care in patients with moderate to severe unipolar depression.
Main Methods:
- An open-label, randomized controlled trial involving adult inpatients with moderate to severe unipolar depression.
- Intervention group received pharmacist-guided PGx testing for antidepressant selection and dosing.
- Control group received standard care, with antidepressant selection by physicians without PGx information.
Main Results:
- The primary outcome is the comparison of response rates between the PGx-guided intervention group and the standard care control group after 4 weeks.
- Data on treatment response, adverse drug reactions, and drug exposure will be analyzed.
Conclusions:
- Findings are expected to inform clinical practice regarding the integration of PGx data in psychiatric care.
- This trial aims to enhance inter-professional collaboration for utilizing PGx information in managing depression.
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