Too soon to judge value of pharmacogenetic testing in selecting antidepressant

Abstract

The published research on testing for gene-based variations in the metabolism of selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is poor—so poor that government-funded investigators recently could not find enough evidence to determine whether such testing would be useful in individualizing the treatment of depression. While this lack of evidence could be viewed as discouraging, the government took the view that the glass is half full. “This information will help identify the types of studies that are necessary to help better understand various treatment response issues,” said Beth A. Collins Sharp in a statement issued with the public release of the evidence report “Testing for Cytochrome P450 Polymorphisms in Adults With Non-Psychotic Depression Treated With Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).” Collins Sharp is the director of the Evidence-based Practice Center program at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The 157-page report, released in early January, is part of the Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention pilot project of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).