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Precision Medicine in Antidepressants Treatment

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Precision Medicine

Abstract

Precision medicine uses innovative approaches to improve disease prevention and treatment outcomes by taking into account people’s genetic backgrounds, environments, and lifestyles. Treatment of depression is particularly challenging, given that 30–50% of patients do not respond adequately to antidepressants, while those who respond may experience unpleasant adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that decrease their quality of life and compliance. This chapter aims to present the available scientific data that focus on the impact of genetic variants on the efficacy and toxicity of antidepressants. We compiled data from candidate gene and genome-wide association studies that investigated associations between pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic genes and response to antidepressants regarding symptom improvement and ADRs. We also summarized the existing pharmacogenetic-based treatment guidelines for antidepressants, used to guide the selection of the right antidepressant and its dose based on the patient's genetic profile, aiming to achieve maximum efficacy and minimum toxicity. Finally, we reviewed the clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics studies focusing on patients on antidepressants. The available data demonstrate that precision medicine can increase the efficacy of antidepressants and reduce the occurrence of ADRs and ultimately improve patients’ quality of life.

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Change history

  • 15 July 2023

    A correction has been published.

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Correspondence to Vita Dolžan .

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© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

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Tsermpini, E.E., Serretti, A., Dolžan, V. (2023). Precision Medicine in Antidepressants Treatment. In: Cascorbi, I., Schwab, M. (eds) Precision Medicine. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 280. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/164_2023_654

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