title: Positive perception of pharmacogenetic testing for psychotropic medications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pharmacogenetics attempts to identify inter-individual genetic differences that are predictive of variable drug response and propensity to side effects, with the prospect of assisting physicians to select the most appropriate drug and dosage for treatment. However, many concerns regarding genetic tests exist. We sought to test the opinions of undergraduate science and medical students in southern Ontario universities toward pharmacogenetic testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Questionnaires were completed by 910 undergraduate medicine and science students from 2005 to 2007. Despite students' concerns that the results of genetic tests may be used for other purposes without consent (71%) or lead to discrimination (78%), an overwhelming number of students were in favor of pharmacogenetic testing (90%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this study is the first to survey a large sample for their attitude toward pharmacogenetic testing for psychotropic medications. Our results indicate that, although concerns remain and scientific advancements are required, respondents were in support of pharmacogenetic testing for medications used to treat schizophrenia. © 2014 The Authors. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Lanktree
authors.forename: Gwyneth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zai
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Vanderbeek
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Giuffra
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Smithson
authors.forename: Lucas B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Kipp
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Dalseg
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Speechley
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D011287:Prejudice; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: antipsychotics; bioethics; genetics; pharmacogenetics; psychopharmacology