Written by By: Annamaria Oddo with Mind and Body Psychiatry
GenesSight testing is a type of pharmacogenetic test that analyzes how your genetic makeup may influence your response to certain medications. The test studies specific genes involved in how your body metabolizes medications and how those medications interact with your brain chemistry.
Here’s how it works:
- Genes Analyzed: The GeneSight test looks at variations in genes that affect the metabolism of psychotropic medications, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and mood stabilizers.
- Personalized Treatment: Based on your genetic results, the test provides information about how you might respond to specific medications and can give better explanations as to why you responded to certain medications negatively in the past. The test divides each category of psychotropic medications into 3 subcategories:
- Green (Recommended): These medications are likely to work well for you based on your genetic profile, as long as they are approved options for your specific diagnosis.
- Yellow (Moderate/Use Caution): These medications may be effective, but you may need a different dose or close monitoring.
- Red (Use with Caution/Not Recommended): These medications might not work well for you or could cause adverse reactions.
- Goal: The goal of GeneSight is to help providers make more informed decisions about prescribing the most effective medications for you while minimizing the risk of side effects or ineffective treatments.
GeneSight testing is important because it helps tailor psychiatric treatment to a patient’s unique genetic profile, potentially improving both the efficacy and safety of medications. In the field of mental health, finding the right medication can be a complex and trial-and-error process, often requiring patients to try multiple drugs and endure side effects before finding the one that works best. GeneSight helps streamline this process by providing genetic insights into how a person might respond to specific medications, which can significantly reduce the time and discomfort associated with medication adjustments.
At Mind and Body Psychiatry, I am a registered GeneSight provider and can order this test for any established patient. It’s an easy process! Once the test is ordered, you can expect it at your door in about 48 hours. The test is a simple cheek swab that gets sent into the GeneSight lab. Results are usually available within a few days to a week. Once the results are in, I explain the results to my patients and use them in every medication decision moving forward.
If you’re tired of the trial-and-error process and want to feel more confident in your treatment options, I’d be happy to help you get set up as a patient to get the GeneSight test done. It’s a great way to find better, more personalized medication options that could work for you! For more information, here is the GeneSight website. https://genesight.com/.
If you are interested in scheduling an intake appointment, there are a few ways to reach me.
You can call or text 614-482-2591.
You can email annamaria@mindandbodypsychiatry.com.
You can also schedule an appointment on my website https://www.mindandbodypsychiatry.com/contact-me.
