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This AI tool can prescribe antidepressants for you
11 Mar 2026

A groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) tool developed by the University of Oxford is changing how doctors prescribe antidepressants.

The innovative system analyzes a wide range of data on depression and individual patient information, including their tolerance for potential side effects.

The AI then recommends the most effective medication, significantly improving the process of tailoring treatment for people with depression.

A shift from trial-and-error
Revolutionary approach

The AI tool's introduction marks a major shift from the traditional trial-and-error method of prescribing antidepressants.

This old practice relied heavily on the clinician's experience and often took years to find the right treatment.

Research professor Andrea Cipriani, who led the study, said this new approach is revolutionary as it cuts down on both time and potential harm to patients.

Improving treatment adherence
Positive impact

The PETRUSHKA tool, as it's called, has shown impressive results in improving treatment adherence.

Cipriani said that patients whose antidepressant was chosen using this AI tool were 40% more likely to stick with their treatment.

This is a huge improvement over the old method where almost 80% of people prescribed antidepressants stop taking them within weeks.

Tool tested in international clinical trial
Trial results

The PETRUSHKA tool was tested in an international clinical trial involving 500 adults with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) across the UK, Brazil, and Canada.

The participants completed a survey detailing their health and side effects they did not want or could not tolerate.

The AI then suggested the most suitable antidepressant for them.

This real-world application of the tool further highlights its potential to improve antidepressant prescription practices.

Expanding the tool's use
Future prospects

The success of the PETRUSHKA has opened up possibilities for its use in other mental health conditions.

The research team hopes to make this AI tool available to general practitioners (GPs) across the UK.

This would mark a major step forward in using advanced technology like AI to improve mental health care and treatment outcomes for patients.