{
  "id": 14239365,
  "title": "A large trial of genotype-guided antidepressant prescribing finds no early benefit but higher remission later",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/a-large-trial-of-genotype-guided-antidepressant-prescribing-finds-no",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-13T16:00:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PsyPost",
    "slug": "psypost",
    "url": "https://www.psypost.org/a-large-trial-of-genotype-guided-antidepressant-prescribing-finds-no-early-benefit-but-higher-remission-later/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent randomized clinical trial examined whether using genetic test results to guide the prescription of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression provided any early benefits, but found higher remission rates later on. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, involved 1,460 participants with depression, aged 8 or older, who were being prescribed SSRIs at various clinics across nine U.S. health systems between 2021 and 2024. Participants were randomly assigned to either a genotype-guided group or a usual care group. Genetic testing was focused on CYP2D6 and CYP2C19, which can affect how a person metabolizes SSRIs. In the genotype-guided group, clinicians received recommendations for alternative SSRIs and doses based on genetic results, as well as information about other medications that could slow CYP2D6 activity. However, at 3 months, there was no significant difference in depression symptom improvement between the two groups, as both showed modest decrease in symptoms. Side effects were also similar in both groups. At 6 months, however, there was a significant difference, with 48% of patients in the genotype-guided group achieving remission compared to 39% in the usual care group. This suggests a possible longer-term benefit of genotype-guided SSRI prescribing. The study also found that the recommendations based on genetic results led to a higher proportion of patients being prescribed the appropriate medication and dose in the genotype-guided group compared to the usual care group. However, the study did not meet its primary goal of improving depression symptoms at 3 months and the rates of remission at 6 months were secondary outcomes.",
  "summary": "Using genetic test results to guide antidepressant prescriptions did not improve depression symptoms after 3 months in a large clinical trial. But by 6 months, more patients in the gene-guided group had reached remission.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}