Can Genetic Testing Point You to the Best Mental Health Treatment?

Our DNA holds clues about how to best treat depression and other conditions. The tests are becoming more widespread, but even doctors don’t always know the best way to interpret the information. Dr. Alok Patel goes to the frontier of personalized medicine to explain the tests and their limitations.

🩺🥼 Vitals is a series that’s taking a new approach to health and medicine. Hosts Alok Patel, MD, and Sheena Williams RN are going beyond the headlines to answer your questions on the latest health topics. No judgment, no taboos. Just 100% science-based information.

This episode of Vitals is licensed exclusively to YouTube.

Let’s Connect:

Find our experts and hosts:

:: Sheena William, RN ::
Twitter: @Keepingitkinky1
Instagram: @keepingitkinky

:: Alok Patel, MD ::
Twitter: @AlokPatelMD
Instagram: @alokpatelmd

:: Joyce Chen, PMHNP-BC, PHN ::
Instagram: @thecuriouspsychnp

:: Stephanie Williams, DNP, CNM, CPM ::
Instagram: @doctor_midwife

:: Holly Garriock, Ph.D.::

Learn more about personalized medicine:

Studies mentioned:

[immortan-valkyrie]

I did GeneSight after my dad recommended it, as I struggled with bipolar 2 medications. Now I'm on a better dosage and switched meds that are the most effective. Also! My insurance thankfully covered it.

[coltendavis]

I can't wait for mine to finish, 8 years I've been trying to get the proper meds. I love how far medicine has come.

[krizthulhu]

I look forward to the day where we are able to be (near) perfectly matched to our ideal psych med and dosage. Tests like GeneSight are still far too imperfect to count.

Until that day (which I realize we likely won't see in our lifetimes), I opt to remain entirely off any/all of them because the side effects are never worth it.

37 years old and been on various SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, AEDs, AAPs, BZDs - you name it - for my anxiety disorder... Since 10 years old.

I'm over it. I'm tired. And I know I'm not alone.

I see y'all. And I'm so sorry.

[MBMCincy]

I am glad to have watched this, I may have to look into it. Some meds are a miss more often than a hit.

[lurpygeek]

I've done this kind of testing. The result was (shrug). Hope it's helpful to others.

[mehlover]

Going to bring this up with my psychiatrist tomorrow. Cause my SSRI may have been interfering with my liver and blood pressure since I'm at risk for type 2 diabetes

[safaiaryu]

Interesting that you mention liver damage as a consideration. I was recently diagnosed with non alcoholic fatty liver disease, which forced me to stop taking hydrocodone with acetaminophen for my severe chronic pain. I'm also on two antidepressants (very common for people with chronic pain) which I'm scared to stop taking, but I wonder if it would be good to stop while my liver recovers...?

Got an appointment with my psychiatrist in May, I'll have to ask him.

[teschchr]

I agree that this was not terribly helpful for me. Was recommended by my first psychiatrist, who I eventually fired after securing a much better psychiatrist. When I told the new psychiatrist that I had done GeneTest she said, send it along, it will be helpful but not as helpful as you think, confirming my suspicions since one of the meds that the other psychiatrist prescribed gave me pretty bad side effects.