background It is often said that a patient with depression can derive considerable benefit from personalised diagnostics and treatment.
aim To find out whether we have enough data to demonstrate that personalised diagnostics and personalised treatment of depression are better than what we do now and, if so, what specific action we should take.
method We review the literature on the foregoing topic.
results There is ample evidence to support the view that the efficacy of treatment may improve quite dramatically if we are able to diagnose with much greater precision and select a treatment that is best suited to an individual person. Although there is less empirical evidence available with regard to a system that makes use of short regular feedback of unique personal data of patients and of the personal input of the professionals involved, these factors may nevertheless improve efficacy still further.
conclusion Although no hard evidence is available so far, for instance as a result of trials, there is sufficient evidence to support the further development of personalised diagnostics and personalised treatment of depression.