DNA extracted from cheek swabs tell physicians how quickly your body breaks down drugs.
of U.S. adults. In young people, the numbers are even more striking: 22 percent of 16- to 17-year-olds and 17 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds experienced at least one major depressive episode in 2020. Treatments are imprecise; only 30 percent of patients show depression remission. But a newsuggests that genetic testing could help doctors choose which antidepressant medicines and dosages to prescribe. The personalized treatment plans could help patients respond quickly and effectively.
The researchers extracted DNA from cheek swabs in nearly 2,000 patients that were treated for major depressive disorder across 22 Veteran Affairs medical centers. All of them were either beginning treatment or switching their prescription. The team provided the genetic test results to physicians for half of the patients, but didn’t for the other half. Then, they documented which drugs the physicians prescribed and if depression symptoms improved.
The genetically tested group also responded more quickly to their prescribed drug treatments. By the 12-week mark, genetically tested patients had improved depression remission, response and symptoms compared to the control group. However, by 24 weeks, treatment outcomes weren’t significantly different between them.
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