Effexor users may benefit from biomarker identification for treatment selection

Recent research points to the use of neuroimaging in the future to select effective treatment regimens for those taking Effexor for major depressive disorder.

The study, conducted by researchers at Emory University, used PET scans to find differences in a biomarker in the brain. Research was focused on people who had success with medications, those that had success with cognitive behavior therapy and those who had no success at all.

Though the study was small, involving only 38 patients with clear outcomes, it is still significant because it is the first to attempt and find success with identifying biomarkers to help find treatment for depression. If this process becomes widely used, it will significantly cut down on patients' trial and error time for finding the right treatment - a process that currently can take several months as people with major depressive disorder and their doctors cycle through combinations of medication and therapy, seeking the one that works for them.

Researchers and doctors have also used biomarkers to identify and personalize treatment for different patients in the areas of heart disease and cancer. However, researchers are hoping to find an easier and less expensive way to uncover biomarkers for treating depression because PET scans can be costly and unavailable in some places.

Still, the stakes are high: Less than 40 percent of patients being treated for major depressive disorder find remission with their initial treatment option. Remission from depression is defined as scoring 7 or less on the 17-point Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.

This research marks an important step in identifying a biomarker to determine how an individual person's body will respond to treatment. However, doctors are likely to prescribe combinations of therapy and medication, which can be purchased for lower rates at an online pharmacy.