As mentioned in the initial post, genetic make-up has substantial implications on the use of antipsychotics and their effect on an individual’s metabolism. Clinical application of this information is currently lacking and requires further intervention to allow for better insights into the relationship between genetics and antipsychotic medication as well as for the improvement of patient well-being. The response to antipsychotics can be observed as complex phenotypes, a combination of genetic and clinical elements, and symptoms that vary in severity as well as in adherence level (Yoshida & Muller, 2019). Symptom-focused research finds that portions of the impact of antipsychotics converge in negative changes such as weight gain, hormonal abnormalities, movement disorders, and other health detriments.
Despite this information, the study states that clinical intervention is limited with only commercial pharmacogenomic tests being available for patients with schizophrenia. This presents an issue in which individual needs and unique factors of the genetic make-up of patients may not be adequately addressed in regards to antipsychotic administration. The study was able to observe four main genetic groups that have been observed in relation to pharmacogenetics and antipsychotics. These are the PK CYP450 and ABCB1, dopaminergic system, COMT, and serotonergic system genes. These were chosen due to the fact that responses to antipsychotics were recorded but were inconsistent. As such, more relevant data can be revealed between genetic makeup and the metabolic processes in regard to antipsychotic use. For more clinical effectiveness, it is vital to observe all genetic components that can contribute to diverse responses.
A study outlines the P450 enzyme system which facilitates psychotropic drug metabolism and how genotypic changes can contribute to a lack of efficiency in patient treatment (Franco-Martin et al., 2018). This displays the need for more diversified and in-depth assessments of the role of genetics in antipsychotic responses among patients.
References
Franco-Martin, M., Sans, F., Garcia-Berracol, B., Blanco, C., Llanes-Alvarez, C., & Isidoro-Garcia, M. (2018). Usefulness of pharmacogenetic analysis in psychiatric clinical practice: A case report.Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience, 16(3), 349–357. Web.
Yoshida, K., & Muller, D. J. (2019). Pharmacogenetics of antipsychotic drug treatment: Update and clinical implications.Molecular Neuropsychiatry, 5(1), 1-26. Web.