Stop the Medication Guessing Game: How Genetic Testing Transforms Psychiatric Care

Finding the right psychiatric medication might feel like a game of trial and error. What works well for one person may cause side effects, or simply not work, for another. Genetic testing offers helpful insight before beginning treatment. Here’s why.

About 26% of adults in the United States have a form of mental health disorder. That’s why genetic testing, particularly pharmacogenomic testing, is a highly useful tool.

Below, we break down how genetic testing has changed psychiatric care, ways it can help, and why a personalized treatment could mean less guessing and more informed decisions for our patients.

Visit with Evan Donin, PMHNP-BC, at Sunshine Mental Wellness Associates Inc. in Palm Harbor, Florida, or Melville, New York, for a mental health evaluation and genetic testing if you may be a candidate for medications.

Genetic testing 101

By looking at gene differences that may influence how your body processes certain medications, genetic testing at Sunshine Mental Wellness Associates Inc. helps Evan make effective choices about medication management and proper dosing.

It adds another piece to the puzzle, reducing trial and error for more effective, often faster mental health outcomes.

Conditions genetic testing may help with

Genetic testing at Sunshine Mental Wellness Associates Inc. analyzes gene variations in your DNA to help determine how your body might break down medicines prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety disorder, and similar conditions.

Genetic testing can also guide treatment decisions for people struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more.

Benefits of genetic testing

The benefits of choosing genetic testing at Sunshine Mental Wellness Associates Inc. can include:

Effective results
Faster-acting outcomes
Fewer potential side effects
Time and cost savings
Reduced symptoms
Enhanced quality of life

You’ll avoid trying medications that might not work (based on your genetic makeup), and skip right to those that most likely offer the results you desire.

What to expect during and after genetic testing

The first step of genetic testing at Sunshine Mental Wellness Associates Inc. is to complete a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation with Evan. He discusses your lifestyle habits, medical history, current medications, symptoms, and more. Using DSM-5 criteria, he evaluates your emotions, moods, behaviors, and thoughts.

If you’re a candidate for genetic testing, you’ll complete a simple cheek swab to analyze your genes and how they might affect the effectiveness of current or new medications, as well as doses that should work best for your personalized needs.

After you receive your genetic testing results, Evan will discuss your options and offer recommendations based on your specific situation.

In addition to medication management, Sunshine Mental Wellness Associates Inc. offers cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), other forms of psychotherapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and much more.

Evan tailors a plan offering hope, restoration, healing, joy, peace of mind, and a better quality of life. Follow up with him to ensure exceptional, long-lasting mental health outcomes.

Schedule an appointment at Sunshine Mental Wellness Associates Inc. by contacting us by phone or requesting a visit online today.