Ethnicity and antipsychotic response.
OBJECTIVE
To review the data generated by studies examining interethnic/racial differences in response to antipsychotics.


METHODS
A MEDLINE search (1966-1996) identified all articles examining differences in antipsychotic response among Caucasians, Asians, Hispanics, and African-Americans, as well as articles evaluating postulated mechanisms for these differences.


METHODS
All abstracts, studies, and review articles were evaluated.


RESULTS
Ethnic/racial differences in response to antipsychotic medications have been reported and may be due to genetics, kinetic variations, dietary or environmental factors, or variations in the prescribing practices of clinicians. Studies suggest that Asians may respond to lower doses of antipsychotics due to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences. Research relevant to African-Americans is limited, but some studies suggest that differences in this group may be due to clinician biases and prescribing practices, rather than to pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic variability.


CONCLUSIONS
Future research directed at validating the hypotheses that different ethnic/racial groups show variations in response to antipsychotics should focus on homogeneous ethnic groups, use recent advances in pharmacogenetic testing, and control for such variables as observer bias, gender, disease chronicity, dietary and environmental factors, and exposure to enzyme-inducing and -inhibiting agents. Clinicians should be aware that potential interethnic/racial differences in pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics may exist that can alter response to antipsychotics.
Frackiewicz
E J
EJ
California Clinical Trials, Beverly Hills 90211, USA.
Sramek
J J
JJ
Herrera
J M
JM
Kurtz
N M
NM
Cutler
N R
NR
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D044469:Racial Groups; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents