Little Evidence Found to Support the Usefulness of Genetic Tests in Depression Treatment

Filed in archive Diagnostics , Studies on January 5, 2007

According to a new evidence report supported by a collaboration of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Office of Public Health genomics, there is not enough evidence to determine if the current gene-based tests intended to personalize the dose of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) improve patient outcomes or aid in treatment decisions for depression.

The report found that tests evaluating differences in genes belonging to the Cytochrome P450, or CYP450, family that affect the rate at which a person metabolizes SSRIs are largely accurate.

However, the researchers did not find any evidence that such tests led to improved patient outcomes or had an impact on treatment decisions for patients with depression.

The researchers noted that other genetic factors and non-genetic factors such as diet and other medical conditions may have an impact on a patient's response to treatment.

The abovementioned evidence report is the first step in the two-step process of CDC's Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention (EGAPP) pilot project to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the use of gene-based tests.

Find more details from the press release.