Completed

Depression: The Search for Treatment-Relevant Phenotypes

0 criteria met from your profileSee at a glance how your profile meets each eligibility criteria.
What is being tested

Escitalopram

+ Interpersonal Psychotherapy

+ Escitalopram plus IPT

DrugBehavioralOther
Who is being recruted

Mental Disorders+2

+ Behavioral Symptoms

+ Depression

From 18 to 66 Years
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Phase 4
Interventional
Study Start: May 2003
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorUniversity of Pittsburgh
Last updated: January 14, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: May 1, 2003

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

Major depression is a serious condition that can have devastating functional consequences. Although numerous depression studies have been conducted, understanding of how best to achieve long-term recovery remains limited. This study will assess the mood, personality, pharamcokinetic and genetic characteristics of depressed participants to determine the effects of these features on treatment response. This study will be conducted at two international treatment sites, including the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pisa, Italy. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) or escitalopram pharmacotherapy for a minimum of 32 weeks or approximately 8 months. Participants whose symptoms become stabilized will continue the initial treatment for another 6 months; those who do not will have the second treatment added to their regimen until remission occurs. Clinical evaluations and questionnaires will be used to assess participants.

Official TitleDepression: The Search for Treatment-Relevant Phenotypes 
NCT00073697
Principal SponsorUniversity of Pittsburgh
Last updated: January 14, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

290 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Treatment Study

These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.



Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

From 18 to 66 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers not allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

Mental DisordersBehavioral SymptomsDepressionDepressive DisorderMood Disorders

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of Major depression Exclusion Criteria: * History of manic or hypomanic episodes * History of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder * Diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa * Current psychosis * Drug and/or alcohol dependence or abuse within 3 months prior to study entry. Participants with episodic abuse related to mood disorders will not be excluded. * Diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder * Diagnosis of organic affective syndrome and uncontrolled medical illness * Pregnancy * Require inpatient treatment for suicidal risk or psychosis * History of an inability to tolerate any of the study treatments * Currently receiving treatment with an effective antidepressant

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives

3 intervention groups are designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group 

Treatment Groups

Group I

Experimental
Escitalopram

Group II

Experimental
Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Group III

Experimental
Escitalopram plus IPT

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 2 locations

Suspended

Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic - Depression Prevention Program

Pittsburgh, United StatesSee the location
Suspended

The University of Pisa

Pisa, Italy
Completed2 Study Centers