Neural, Genetic, and Peripheral Correlates of SSRI Pharmaco-Response

The aim of this pharmaco-MRI study is to investigate neural correlates of variable antidepressant treatment response driven by genetic variation in multiple genes involved in depression. Thirty Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) patients with a concurrent major depressive episode will undergo three MRI scanning sessions after escitalopram treatment initiation. Furthermore, extensive behavioral assessments and measures of potential peripheral markers such lymphocyte mRNA or pharmacological parameters on platelets or lymphocytes will be performed. Imaging measures have been suggested to be superior for drug response assessment as compared to psychometric scales, which hardly correlate with biological parameters. Since imaging techniques are too expensive and sophisticated for a broad clinical use, this study will provide pilot data on potential peripheral biomarkers of neural activation being related to drug response.