Clinical Applicability of a Genetically Based Treatment Algorithm

In the absence of biological markers to guide antidepressant selection for patients with depression or anxiety disorders, clinicians use trial-and-error approaches. A pharmacogenetic company has developed a computerized program that categorizes patients by genotyping (JW Psychiatry Nov 9 2012). This retrospective, industry-funded study tests the program for its ability to identify patient and system healthcare burdens.

Participants were 97 patients diagnosed with depression or anxiety who had available 1-year retrospective histories of medication and multiple healthcare variables. They were genotyped for 50 polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes (CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, and CYP1A2), the serotonin (HT) transporter, and the HT_2A recepto…