Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Developing a Rat Model for Bipolar Disorder
Published on: May 2, 2025
Pharmacogenetic considerations in the treatment of psychiatric disorders
Falk W Lohoff1, Thomas N Ferraro
1University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, Translational Research Laboratories, 125 South 31st Street, Room 2213, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. lohoff@mail.med.upenn.edu
Importance Of The Field:
Despite continued efforts to optimize pharmacological treatment for individuals with psychiatric disorders, efficacy and tolerability of medication remains highly variable. In addition to clinical heterogeneity, diagnostic uncertainty, environmental, social factors, and genetic factors have been identified as playing an important role in the interindividual differences in therapeutic and toxic drug effects.
Areas Covered In This Review:
This article describes recent developments in the field of psychiatric pharmacogenetics and focuses on antidepressant, antipsychotic, anticonvulsant, and mood-stabilizing drugs.
What The Reader Will Gain:
Recent findings from pharmacogenetic clinical trials are reviewed and clinical implications are discussed.
Take Home Message:
Although current data are too sparse to allow the development of guidelines for using pharmacogenetic testing in routine clinical practice, the field of psychiatric pharmacogenetics is rapidly developing and identification of genetic biomarkers that predict therapeutic response and risk of side effects will ultimately help the practitioner to choose effective and safe treatment for patients suffering from psychiatric disorders.
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics: Overview
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Metabolism: Overview
Principles of Pharmacogenetics: Types of Genetic Variants
Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...