Genetic Testing Can Be Used to Recommend Mental Health Medication
- Genetic testing can help determine the best course of mental health treatment for people struggling with issues like anxiety and depression.
- The test can give a profile of how a person is likely to respond to different psychiatric medications.
- Using this genetic testing, doctors can gauge which medications are likely to work for their patients and cause the least amount of problematic side effects.
“Doing the genetic testing has absolutely transformed the landscape of psycho-pharmacology,” psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik tells SurvivorNet. “It’s something that I highly recommend for anybody that is taking medication, whether they are being treated for cancer, or not … I recommend it for children who are taking medication. I recommend it for elderly people. Anybody who is taking medication, I think, can greatly benefit from genetic testing.”
Read More Genetic testing can give a profile of how a person is likely to respond to different types of psychiatric medications, Dr. Plutchik explains. Testing is also available to create a profile of how patients will likely respond to different sorts of pain medications, which can be really beneficial for those going through some other sort of health issue. Genetic testing “gives me information about which medications are likely to work without having problematic side effects. It also gives information about interactions between any of the psych medications that we choose,” and other medications a patient may be taking, Dr. Plutchik explains. The genetic test that Dr. Plutchik was discussing, Genomind, looks at multiple factors before determining which treatment is likely to have successful results and minimal side-effects. The test examines certain genes that are associated with responses to medications commonly prescribed for mental health issues and then looks into the patient’s ability to metabolize medication.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- Should I consider going on medication to help with mental health struggles?
- Would genetic testing be helpful in determining the best treatment for me?
- What is the likelihood that the test will recommend the right treatment?
- What can we do if I don’t find success with the recommended treatment?
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