Pharmacogenomics and Depression
Alicia Ketterer
What Pharmacogenomics Can Do
Depression has been difficult to treat, especially with the use of antidepressant medications. According to Anna Almendrala in the article, "A Blood Test For Depression Shows the Illness Is Not A Matter Of Will," there are an average of 6.7% of Americans living with depression in the United States and it takes an average of 40 months to be diagnosed. That is if the individual seeks help for their disease, which is not commonly seen with depression. This also decreases the chances for negative reactions. Pharmacogenomics, the study of how individuals metabolize medications, can allow patients better outcomes for a better quality of life. The medical staff will be more able to provide the correct medication for the individual based on their specific genetic need. The medical community will also be able to keep better track of individual clients specific medication metabolism, decreasing the risk for negative outcomes.The gene variants which change the way a person metabolizes his or her medications does not only apply to antidepressants. Nurses also need to be the patient's advocate and gaining a better understanding of pharmacogenomics as a rapidly growing field. Nurses will also have the knowledge to be more efficient through use of personalized medicine, "An effort to apply knowledge about the sequence and regulation of the human genome to medical care of individual patients (Munro, 2014)." The use of antidepressants, along with other medications, will soon have less stigma and become more effective because of the use of pharmacogenomics.
Treatment for Diseases Like Depression May Have a New Face
Why Are These Findings Important to the Medical Community
More Personalized Nursing Interventions Can Be Implemented
Hope for a Better Future in Medicine
References
Almendrala, A. (2014, September 16). A Blood Test For Depression Shows The Illness Is Not A Matter Of Will. Retrieved November 26, 2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/16/blood-test-depression_n_5826592.html
Munro, C. (2014, October 9). Journal of Advanced NursingEarly View, Article first published online: 9 OCT 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jan.12552/pdf
Weinshilboum, M.D., R. (2014, October 21). Advancing the Science - Pharmacogenomics. Retrieved December 2, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PHuiNnNDOQ