title: Pharmacogenetic considerations in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite continued efforts to optimize pharmacological treatment for individuals with psychiatric disorders, efficacy and tolerability of medication remains highly variable. In addition to clinical heterogeneity, diagnostic uncertainty, environmental, social factors, and genetic factors have been identified as playing an important role in the interindividual differences in therapeutic and toxic drug effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article describes recent developments in the field of psychiatric pharmacogenetics and focuses on antidepressant, antipsychotic, anticonvulsant, and mood-stabilizing drugs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent findings from pharmacogenetic clinical trials are reviewed and clinical implications are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although current data are too sparse to allow the development of guidelines for using pharmacogenetic testing in routine clinical practice, the field of psychiatric pharmacogenetics is rapidly developing and identification of genetic biomarkers that predict therapeutic response and risk of side effects will ultimately help the practitioner to choose effective and safe treatment for patients suffering from psychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Translational Research Laboratories, 125 South 31st Street, Room 2213, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. lohoff@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Falk W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Lohoff
authors.forename: Thomas N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Ferraro
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004345:Drug Industry; D004347:Drug Interactions; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D023281:Genomics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D010597:Pharmacogenetics / Q000379:methods; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs