Using Genetic Testing For Mental Health Medicine
We are super excited to have Kate Reilly, our very first psychiatric nurse practitioner, on our Rhode Island-based team at ME Psychotherapy! Our last post explored the question “is medication right for me”. This post will shine a bit more light on how we evaluate and plan for medication prescribing in our group using pharmacogenetics testing.
Gone are the days of trial and error for medication prescribing. Modern pharmacology and genetic science have combined to allow for the testing of each person's unique response to psychotropic medications. We have partnered with the pharmacogenetic testing company, IDGenetix, to provide and administer genetic testing to help guide our medication prescribing practice.
If you’re curious about medication, you will now have the option to participate in genetic testing to determine which medications will work best with your personal biological profile and mental health prescribing needs. After an initial meeting with our nurse practitioner and completing the related forms, our office will order your genetic test. The test consists of a simple cheek swab, which you can do in the office or at home, which is then sent out for laboratory analysis. Within a few weeks, the results are returned to our office and we will reach out to you to schedule a follow up appointment to review the findings and make precise recommendations for your treatment. You can then choose to continue on with medication treatment with our office or just use your results for your own personal health knowledge.
If you decide to proceed with medication, your genetic testing results will then guide our prescribing process. Pharmacogenetic testing will show you which medications are will be best tolerated by you and which medications are not good for you to use. It will also indicate how you metabolize these medications, which will help with planning for your prescription dosage and timing. While there are many different medications in multiple categories to choose from, treating mental health symptoms with medications guided by your exact genetics takes a lot of the mystery out of the prescribing process!
Most people come to our RI therapy offices with specific complaints - panic attacks, trouble sleeping, trouble focusing, depression, mood swings, migraines, irritability, racing thoughts, etc. These mental health symptoms can be sorted into categories based on medication type. The main categories that apply to mental health conditions are medications for depression and anxiety, ADHD, bipolar, psychosis, migraines, and pain. In each category is a set of medications, usually between 15-25 options, that work to treat the related symptoms. Each medication has certain ways it works with the symptoms and certain known and common side effects.
For example, let’s say you were seeking help with your anxiety and panic symptoms. There are around 25 commonly prescribed medications for depression and anxiety. These medications come from several classes - some commonly known classes are SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), SNRIs (selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) or TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants). Each class of medications has known pros and cons and best usage practices. Using your genetic testing results, a review of your family and personal health history, and an open therapeutic discussion about your goals for medication management and concerns about side effects - we will create an informed and precise medication treatment plan to reduce your levels of anxiety and panic using the medications that are shown to be best for you.
Pharmacogenetic testing is an excellent first step on your medication journey. Here’s some important financial information:
There is a one-time cost for the test itself - which depends on your insurance coverage - that will be no more than $330.
For Medicaid & Medicare clients, the test is free.
For your follow up appointment to review your results, we will bill your insurance company (if we are in-network) or the self-pay rate of $150 will apply.
If you are a new client to our practice and you’re interested in signing up for genetic testing, you can go to our website and click the orange “request appointment” button. Choose the genetic testing option and your preferred date/time. If you prefer to skip the testing and want to schedule a full consultation appointment to explore beginning medication right away, you can request a clinical intake assessment instead.
If you are a current client of our practice, you are not able to schedule online since you already have an active client portal. Instead, you will email our Office Director, McKayla Horan, at office@mepsychotherapy.com. She can assist you with setting up an appointment for genetic testing or a full consultation.
We hope this information was helpful and can guide you with your decision about exploring medication. Feel free to reach out to our office with any questions!