Predictors of Treatment Outcome in Major Depressive Disorder

September 26, 2026 updated by: Abdelrahim Mostafa Hassan Gomaa, Assiut University

Clinical Predictors of Treatment Outcome in Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common and disabling mental health condition characterized by persistent low mood, loss of interest, and disruptions in sleep, appetite, and daily functioning. Response to treatment varies widely among individuals: while some respond to standard single-drug antidepressant therapy, others require medication combinations or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Currently, reliable clinical tools to predict which patients will respond best to specific treatment modalities remain limited.

The purpose of this prospective observational study is to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors that predict treatment response and remission at one month in patients diagnosed with MDD. The study specifically investigates whether baseline characteristics, such as age, sex, symptom profiles (including sleep disturbances, appetite changes, and functional impairment), and the presence of psychotic features, are associated with clinical improvement across different treatment approaches.

Adult participants aged 18 to 60 receiving psychiatric care at Assiut University Hospital are evaluated upon treatment initiation and followed for one month. Because this is an observational study, all treatment choices, including single antidepressants, combination pharmacotherapy, ECT, or combined regimens, are determined entirely by the treating medical team according to standard clinical practice. Depressive symptom severity and therapeutic response are measured at baseline and after one month using standardized clinical assessments, including the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS).

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

100

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 60 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients aged 18 to 60 years admitted to inpatient wards or attending outpatient clinics at the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt, presenting with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) diagnosed according to DSM-5-TR criteria and initiating active standard clinical treatment (pharmacological monotherapy, combination pharmacotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy [ECT], or combined regimens).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) according to DSM-5-TR criteria.
  • Age between 18 and 60 years, male or female.
  • Initiating active standard clinical treatment (pharmacological monotherapy, combination pharmacotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy [ECT], or combined regimens).
  • Willing and able to provide written informed consent (personally or through a legal guardian) and commit to the one-month follow-up assessment.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Comorbid major psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder).
  • Comorbid organic brain disease or unstable major medical illness that could confound clinical assessment.
  • Pregnancy or lactation.
  • Unwillingness or inability to complete the one-month follow-up period.

Study Plan

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

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: COHORT
  • Time Perspectives: PROSPECTIVE

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Major Depressive Disorder Cohort

Patients aged 18-60 years diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder according to DSM-5-TR criteria who are initiating active standard clinical treatment (pharmacological monotherapy, combination pharmacotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy [ECT], or combined regimens) at Assiut University Hospital.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Percentage of Participants With Treatment Response
Time Frame: 1 month

Treatment response is defined as achieving a 50% or greater reduction in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) score from baseline. Total scores range from 0 to 52, with higher scores reflecting greater symptom severity.
1 month

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Assiut University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

October 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

November 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 26, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 26, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

October 1, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

October 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 26, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Treatment Predictors in MDD

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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