Oxford News
Digital tool that personalises antidepressant treatment significantly improves outcomes of people with depression
It is the first time ever a mental health clinical prediction tool has been demonstrated as effective.
The PETRUSHKA tool, developed by the University of Oxford and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), supports clinicians and patients to choose the antidepressant that is better tailored to each individual. It uses AI to combine clinical and demographic information with patient preferences, particularly around side effects, to support treatment personalisation and shared decision-making in routine care.
The tool was tested in a large international randomised clinical trial across Brazil, Canada and the UK involving more than 500 adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and launched in 2024. The findings, published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), show that people whose antidepressant was selected using PETRUSHKA were significantly more likely to continue their treatment and experienced better mental health outcomes compared with usual care up to six months.
Choosing the right antidepressant remains a major challenge in everyday practice, with many people stopping treatment early because of side effects or a lack of perceived benefit. PETRUSHKA was designed to address this by using evidence from clinical trials and real‑world data alongside what matters most to patients, helping to identify the most suitable options from the outset.
In the trial, participants using PETRUSHKA were around 40 per cent less likely to discontinue their antidepressant within the first eight weeks of treatment. Fewer people stopped treatment because of adverse effects, and by 24 weeks those in the PETRUSHKA group also reported greater improvements in depressive and anxiety symptoms.
The tool was co-produced with people with lived experience of depression, it takes three minutes to be administered and is designed to be easy to use in everyday clinical settings, including primary care. Clinicians and patients use PETRUSHKA together during a consultation, either in person or remotely, ensuring that treatment decisions reflect both clinical evidence and individual priorities.
NIHR Research Professor Andrea Cipriani, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford, honorary consultant psychiatrist at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and lead investigator of the study, said: ‘Mental health is lagging behind other fields of medicine and for too long, antidepressant treatment has relied on trial and error. PETRUSHKA shows that by combining the best available evidence with patients’ own preferences, we can personalise antidepressant treatment from the outset and help more people in the NHS stay on the medication that is right for them.’
The potential impact of PETRUSHKA is transformational. By improving treatment continuation and outcomes, the tool could help reduce the personal, clinical and economic burden of depression, particularly in settings where specialist psychiatric support is limited. It may be especially valuable in primary care and other non-specialist services, where most people with depression are treated and clinicians are pressed for time.
Mike Lewis, Scientific Director for Innovation at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), said: “This study shows the real power of combining digital technology and personalised treatment.
‘By harnessing data and embracing cutting-edge digital tools, we can tailor care more precisely to each patient – improving outcomes for individuals. Forward-thinking research such as this shows the impact of using innovative technologies to ensure patients across the UK receive smarter, more effective care.’
While further research is needed to explore long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness, the findings provide strong evidence that digital, patient-centred decision-support tools can play an important role in advancing precision psychiatry and improving mental health care at scale.
Henry Winchester, 45, a freelance writer from Bristol, was a participant of the study. He said: ‘I was quite sceptical of antidepressants, I’d never really got on with them and had had severe side effects.
‘PETRUSHKA found one that was much milder than what I had taken before. It’s been life changing in a way, having one tailored, and finding the right one for me. It could change the way antidepressants are prescribed and make it a lot easier for patients and better for GPs.’
PETRUSHKA stands for Personalising antidEpressant Treatment foR Unipolar depreSsion combining individual cHoices, risKs and big datA. The study was conducted across 47 sites in the UK, Brazil and Canada.
The research was also supported by the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Oxford and Thames Valley.
The Henley Regatta is one of the biggest events for the town and the area as a whole, taking place at the start of July each year.
The Regatta attracts more than 300,000 over six days, with rowing teams from elite British universities and across the world taking part.
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This year, the event is taking place from Tuesday, June 30, to Sunday, July 5.
The company Field Vision Bars Ltd has applied to sell alcohol, play recorded music and host live music at the garden of the Old Blades house during the Regatta.
The Old Blades is in Remenham Lane, Remenham, on the east bank of the River Thames in Berkshire.
Field Vision Bars has applied for the alcohol sales, music and late-night refreshment from 9am to 11pm on Sunday and 9am to 12.30am for the rest of the Regatta week.
This has been submitted in a licensing application to Wokingham Borough Council, the local authority for Remenham.
A statutory consultation into the application is live. You can respond by emailing licensing@wokingham.gov.uk, citing the reference PR0566.
Representations must include your full name and address, and the council’s licensing team suggests respondents include a telephone number and email address as well.
The consultation closes on Monday, April 6.
Chris Rokos, who studied maths in the city, will donate £190m to Cambridge University to establish the Rokos School of Government.
The 55-year-old investor will provide initial support to the new school of government of £130 million, plus up to a further £60 million. The subsequent funding will be matched by the university.
Mr Rokos is a billionaire hedge fund manager who founded Rokos Capital Management.
He went to a state primary school before receiving a scholarship to Eton.
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“I was fortunate to be given the opportunity of an education which transformed my life, and I would like to give something back to Britain,” he said.
“My hope is that, in time, the influence of the Rokos School of Government across the world becomes an important element of that soft power which has been a great asset to the UK.”
Mr Rokos studied mathematics at the University of Oxford and then worked at Goldman Sachs before co-founding Brevan Howard asset management.
He has previously provided financial support for the scholarships programme at Eton and initiatives linked to Pembroke College Oxford.
The Rokos School of Government will prepare future political leaders for a domestic and international politics, Cambridge said.
The school will be built on undeveloped land in the Cambridge West Innovation District.
It will begin operations in autumn 2026 from temporary facilities until the building is completed.
University of Cambridge vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said: “Tackling the enormous challenges facing our world requires radical new ways of thinking and approaches to leadership.
“Cambridge, with its strengths across all disciplines and its convening power, is uniquely positioned to drive this innovation.
“Thanks to Chris’ generous support, the Rokos School of Government will become a place where leaders and governments – both current and future – together with experts from across our institution generate the insights and solutions needed to respond to our rapidly changing world.”
A trust will be formed to oversee the financial undertakings made to the school by donors and the university.
Mr Rokos will appoint two people to manage the affairs of the trust, and the university will appoint two.
The university has nominated pro vice-chancellor for research Professor Sir John Aston and pro vice-chancellor for university community and engagement Professor Kamal Munir.
Mr Rokos has nominated former academic and now-lawyer Dr Christos Nifadopoulos and president of Cambridge’s Girton College Dr Elisabeth Kendall.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) says around 12.1 million agreements could be eligible for payouts, with drivers receiving an average of £829 each under a £7.5 billion redress programme.
Lewis described the move as “unprecedented”, warning that people who delay could lose out or face long waits for compensation.
“You want to be in the group that’s complained, not the group where the lender is having to find you,” he said.
Why Martin Lewis says you must act now
Lewis stressed there are three key reasons to submit a complaint as soon as possible:
- Faster payouts: “You’re likely to be paid out far more quickly sometime in 2026 rather than 2027.”
- Missing records risk: “The lender may no longer have your details you will be far better off if you complain.”
- Outdated personal details: “You might have changed name moved address three times so it could be unable to track you.”
He added that millions have already taken action: “We’ve had 3.6 million complaints most people tell me it’s dead easy.”
Who can claim compensation
The scheme covers car finance agreements taken out between April 2007 and November 2024, including:
- PCP Personal Contract Purchase
- HP Hire Purchase
But it excludes leasing agreements and some low commission deals.
The FCA estimates around 35 percent of agreements were mis-sold, often due to hidden commission structures such as discretionary commission arrangements, which were banned in 2021.
FCA chief executive Nikhil Rathi said the scheme aims to balance fairness and speed: “It will put £7.5 billion back into people’s pockets. Now we need everyone to get behind it and ensure millions get their money this year.”
He added: “Payouts should not be delayed any longer, especially as household bills come under greater pressure.”
Why payouts have increased
While the average payout has increased to £829, the overall compensation pot has dropped from earlier estimates due to:
- Fewer eligible claims now estimated at 12.1 million
- Stricter rules on low commission deals
- Assumptions that fewer people will claim
Martin Lewis says the most important step is simple make a complaint even if you are unsure: “The only way you can know if you were mis-sold is to complain.”
He also warned that relying on lenders to contact you could leave you waiting longer or missing out entirely.
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When payouts will happen
- Some payments could begin this year
- Most claims expected to be settled by the end of 2027
- Earlier complaints likely to be processed first
With billions set to be returned to drivers, this is one of the largest consumer compensation schemes ever seen in the UK.
But as Martin Lewis makes clear, those who act first are likely to benefit most: “You want to complain now.”
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