title: Pharmacogenetic Testing: Application in Mental Health Prescribing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite extensive scholastic and professional training, medication management in psychiatry is often relegated to trial-and-error prescribing. Pharmacogenetic testing (PGT) may expedite identification of medications with maximal efficacy and minimal side effects by recognizing individual genetic variability in drug response.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article outlines the background of PGT, explains drug metabolism, and evaluates the impact of PGT.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of the literature since 2010 found 42 articles regarding PGT in clinical nursing settings on PubMed and ProQuest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite continuing rises in health care costs, new biotechnology has led to a decrease in the cost of genetic sequencing and application of PGT to practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As PGT becomes increasingly prevalent, nurses should be knowledgeable of its purpose, possibilities, and potential limitations to provide accurate and up-to-date patient information.
authors.affiliation: 1 Elizabeth Burke, DNP, PMHNP, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.affiliation: 2 Rene Love, PhD, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, University of Arizona School of Nursing, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Love
authors.affiliation: 3 Pam Jones, DNP, NEA-BC, Vanderbilt School of Nursing, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: 4 Taylor Fife, DNP, PMHNP-BC, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Taylor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fife
keywords: evidence-based practice; general; psychopharmacology; quality improvement