Tailoring antidepressant care for a first depressive episode
Official title: Computational Strategies to Tailor Existing Interventions for First Major Depressive Episodes to Inform and Test Personalized Interventions
Funded at Kaiser Foundation Research Institute · NIH-11404421 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to help personalize initial antidepressant care for people having their first major depressive episode.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kaiser Foundation Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 19, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $768,153 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH132973-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404421 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults experiencing their first major depressive episode who are starting antidepressant therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who achieve rapid response to standard antidepressants may not benefit from altered initial treatment.
What this research studies
This project looks at how to use existing and new predictors to tailor first-line antidepressant treatment for people with their first major depressive episode. Researchers will integrate data and frameworks to identify who might not respond well to standard antidepressants and how to adapt care early. The goal is to prevent chronic depression, reduce disability, and improve long-term outcomes. The team will work within Kaiser Foundation Research Institute in Oakland over several years to develop practical guidance for clinicians.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more effective initial treatment plans that reduce relapse and improve functioning.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has identified predictors of antidepressant response, but this project aims to integrate them for first-episode tailoring, which is a relatively novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Erickson-Ridout, Kathryn Kelly — Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Erickson-Ridout, Kathryn Kelly
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.