This predictive tool could enable doctors to tailor depression treatments more effectively, choosing medications with fewer sexual side effects for high-risk patients, thus improving adherence and quality of life.

Alternative medications like bupropion, which do not significantly increase serotonin levels, could support sexual desire and may be considered if sexual side effects from SSRIs become problematic.

The research addresses a critical gap in depression treatment, where sexual side effects are often unpredictable and only identified after medication begins, sometimes leading to discontinuation.

While promising, experts emphasize that LDAEP is not yet a confirmed biomarker and requires further validation through peer-reviewed, placebo-controlled studies to establish its clinical reliability.

The LDAEP test, which involves playing sounds at different volumes and measuring brain waves, is simple and non-invasive, but not yet widely available; its utility could grow with further validation.

The development of this test aims to enable personalized antidepressant therapy by selecting medications less likely to cause sexual side effects or planning preventive strategies, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

LDAEP measures serotonin activity in the brain, with lower levels indicating higher serotonin, a factor linked to mood improvement but also to potential sexual side effects.

Initial findings show that higher pre-treatment serotonin activity, as indicated by LDAEP, is associated with an 87% accuracy in predicting the likelihood of sexual side effects, especially orgasm difficulties, during SSRI treatment.

Over 11% of US adults used antidepressants in 2023, and serotonin's role in sexual function, including genital blood flow and muscle tension, may explain some of the sexual side effects associated with these medications.

Researchers are exploring a new, non-invasive EEG-based brain test called LDAEP to predict sexual side effects in patients taking SSRIs, which could significantly improve personalized depression treatment.

The current study, which is under peer review, plans to expand to include 600 patients to better understand how serotonin and sex hormone levels influence sexual dysfunction during antidepressant therapy.

Previous research with 90 participants demonstrated that lower LDAEP values predicted orgasmic dysfunction after eight weeks of escitalopram, with about 87% accuracy, prompting larger future studies.