For a long time, people, layman and experts likewise, have been ignoring the fact that genetics can affect our mental health treatments. We have been talking a lot about the role of genetics in developing certain conditions, but not much has been said about their effects on the actual treatment processes. And, well, it is time to change that.
In other words, we have to recognize the fact that genetics play a role in these treatment processes, as well as figure out how. As you can see when you visit Genesight, there are now tools that we can use to our advantage when trying to make treatments more effective and more successful, but we will get to that a bit later. We have to start with the basics and explain things step by step, hoping to help you get a better understanding about all of this, and figure out everything you need to know.
The Role of Genetics in Treatment
As mentioned, thus, we are going to begin with the very basics here. So, let us first explore the connection of genetics and treatment in general. As you understand already, every person’s DNA carries certain instructions that play a huge role in a lot of processes in our bodies, from our eye color to, well, the way we respond to medications. This goes for any kind of medication, and genetics are usually the reason why different people react differently to the same medication.
What Does This Mean for Mental Health Treatment?
What does this have to do with mental health treatments, though? Well, as we have mentioned, genetics play a huge role in the way we respond to any kinds of treatments and medications, and that certainly includes those treatments used for mental health. Knowing this has led to the development of pharmacogenetics, a field that tells us not how certain conditions are developed, but rather how it is that genes actually affect a person’s response to medications.
More precisely, it gives professionals clues about how a person’s body will break down certain meds and thus respond to them. This also includes meds such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, medications for ADHD, and generally any kind of medications that are prescribed for mental health conditions. You have most likely heard stories of people taking the same drugs for, say, depression or anxiety, only to respond rather differently to them, and here’s your answer to what that is. Genes.
Here’s a good read on the topic: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1471489203001875
What Can You Do With This Information?
Okay, but what it is that you can actually do with this type of information? Sure, you get that genes will affect how patients respond to medications, and that can have great implications for you if you are a mental health professional. On the other hand, if you are a patient, then you also understand how this can be quite a significant piece of information for you. Yet, you may not be quite sure what to do with it.
Well, to cut right to the chase, the idea here is that you can nowadays do some genetic testing to get a clearer idea about how you, or your patients, may respond to certain medications that are prescribed for mental health conditions. Let’s take SSRIs as an example here. You know that these are a class of antidepressants that are prescribed for conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and even OCD sometimes. You also know that they are a newer class of antidepressants, known for their effectiveness, and for less side effects when compared to some older generations.
Apart from all of that, you may also be aware of the fact that it sometimes takes time for mental health professionals to actually find the right drug that will work for their individual patients. You may not have known in the past what it was specifically that was affecting such different responses, so you probably just attributed it to the vague term of “individual differences”. Now, however, you know that we are talking about genes, and that you can, thus, use genetic testing to your advantage in order to, well, either prescribe the right medication more precisely if you’re a professional, or help your mental health provider get it right, if you’re a patient. Read more about that.
This means that you can make a shift towards more individualized and personalized treatment options, thus ensuring that the right medications are found for specific individuals right away. And, the benefits of genetic testing when it comes to mental health treatments include fewer trials and errors, better odds at effective treatment, fewer side effects, and similar. In general, genetic testing helps you create an individualized and personalized treatment approach, thus recognizing the fact that we are all different and that there are no one-size-fits-all solutions when it comes to mental health treatment.