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Improving Treatment for Depression in General Practice Using a Step-by-Step Care Plan.

Optimising Treatment for Patients With Depressive Episodes in General Practice Through Algorithm-Based Treatment: A Randomised, Open-label Controlled Trial.

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07263321
Acronym
ODEGA
Enrollment
171
Registered
2025-12-04
Start date
2025-12-31
Completion date
2027-06-30
Last updated
2025-12-10

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Depression, Depression - Major Depressive Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Depressive Disorders, Depressive Episode, Depressive Episodes

Keywords

Treatment for depressive disorder in General Practice, Algorithm-based treatment in General Practice, Algorithm-guided treatment in General Practice, Algorithm-based treatment for depression in General Practice, Algorithm-based treatment for depressive disorder in General Practice, Algorithm-based treatment for depressive episodes in General Practice, Algorithm-guided treatment for depressive episodes in General Practice, Optimising treatment for depressive episodes in general practice

Brief summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare three different treatments for depression in patients with moderate depression in General Practice, aged 18-65 years. We wish to investigate the effect of the treatment approaches, and 171 patients will be included in the trial. The participants will be randomised to one of the following three treatments: 1. Standard treatment provided by a general practitioner (i.e. the general practitioner treats the patient as he/she would normally do, when treating a patient with depression). 2. Standard treatment provided by a psychologist in the form behavioural therapy (i.e. the psychologist treats the patient as he/she would normally do, when treating a patient with depression). 3. A step-by-step treatment plan carried out by a general practitioner. The plan includes pre-determined follow-ups and a pre-determined, structured plan for which medications to use and when to increase dose or switch medication. The hypothesis is that a structured and step-by-step treatment approach regarding patients with depression, treated in general practice, is more effective than standard treatment provided by a general practitioner and a psychologist. All the participants will: 1. Receive one of the three treatments for 12 weeks. 2. Have meetings with the project staff every 4 weeks (week 0, 4, 8 and 12) were rating scales will be completed, e.g. a rating scale to measure progress or deterioration in the participant's depression.

Interventions

OTHERAlgorithm-Based Treatment

This is an open-label pharmacological intervention.

OTHERTreatment as usual (TAU)

This is a treatment as usual provided by a general practitioner (GP). The GP will implement a standard treatment he or she normally would use, when treating a patient with moderate depression in general practice.

Sponsors

Aalborg University Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. The participant must be referred to the study with a diagnosis of unipolar depressive disorder, as judge by the GP. 2. Severity of the depressive episode corresponding to moderate depression, as judged by the GP. 3. Clinical uncertainty regarding which of the treatments, medication or psychotherapy, would be the better choice in the case concerned. 4. Age criteria: Participants must be at least 18 years old and no more than 65 years old at the time of randomisation. 5. The participant must be a patient in general practice. 6. Participants must be able to participate in virtual meetings (e.g. by phone or computer) and have e-Boks. 7. The participant must be willing to receive psychotherapy by a psychologist and/or medication. 8. Must have signed the document of informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

1. Misuse of substances that might influence the study, as judged by the investigator. 2. Difficulty in understanding the Danish language, as judged by the investigator. 3. A diagnosis of dementia. 4. Medical conditions that might interfere with the study outcome or safety, judged so by the investigator. 5. Pregnancy. 6. High risk of non-adherence at the investigator's discretion. 7. Suicidality: according to C-SSRS with a positive response to question 4 or 5 within the last three months or upon investigator's discretion. 8. No current medical or psychotherapy treatment initiated within the last 4 weeks prior to screening.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, 6 item version (HAM-D6)From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks.

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks.
The Major Depression Inventory (MDI)From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks.
The Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP)From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
The Danish Adult Reading Test (DART)At enrollment
The Brief INSPIRE-OAt the end of the treatment at 12 weeks.

Countries

Denmark

Contacts

Primary ContactSarah Bloch, MD and PhD student
s.bloch@rn.dk0045 40196342

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026