For the first time, researchers have published perceptions and attitudes of Western Australian young adults on the potential integration of pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing in guiding antidepressant treatments.
Despite significant advancements in genetic technology, this innovative approach remains underused in everyday clinical practice, particularly when prescribing medication for anxiety and depression.
The Australian prescription rate of antidepressants has risen by approximately 25 per cent over the past seven years, with over 33 million antidepressants prescribed in 2023.
In Western Australia, two in five young people aged 15-24 years old suffer from a mental health disorder.
Western Australian researchers have recently published a study in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Pharmacology.
The research, led by first author Bradley Roberts, PhD candidate at the Perron Institute and The University of Western Australia (UWA), included semi-structured focus groups and interviews with 17 Australian participants aged 18 to 24 living in WA.
“PGx testing has the potential to enhance treatment outcomes for young adults living with mental health conditions by tailoring medications to their unique genetic and metabolic profiles,” said Bradley Roberts.
“There is increasing evidence to support the application of PGx in psychiatric care, suggesting its potential to personalise treatment plans, optimise medication efficacy, and reduce adverse drug reactions, such as unwanted side effects.
“Our study reveals that while there is a positive outlook about PGx testing among young people, there are significant concerns about its integration into primary care settings.
“Participants expressed worries about the financial implications associated with testing, the possibility of delayed treatment, and uncertainties around the accuracy of testing results.
“Another concern about PGx implementation was young people’s perception of a lack of awareness and willingness among general practitioners to incorporate PGx testing into routine practice.
“Understanding the perspectives of young people is essential for guiding research and developing more effective treatment options in mental health care.
“This study highlights important considerations for integrating PGx testing into primary care antidepressant therapy and emphasises the need for future research to address and reduce the perceived barriers of young adults.”
Senior authors of the paper are Professor Jennifer Rodger (head of Brain Plasticity Research at Perron Institute and UWA), psychiatrist Professor Sean Hood (head of Psychiatry at UWA), and genetics researcher Professor Anthony Akkari (Perron Institute, Murdoch University, UWA and Duke University), and other authors are Youth Mental Health Research Coordinator Zahra Cooper (Perron Institute and UWA), Research Assistant Georgia Landery (Perron Institute and UWA), Associate Professor Susanne Stanley (UWA), Dr Bernadette Majda (Curtin University), and Dr Khan Collins (North Metropolitan Health Service, WA Department of Health).