RESIDENT: The Potential Benefit of Pharmacogenetic-Guided Psychotropic Prescribing in Youth

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Presenting Author(s): Dr. Ruxin Miao

Co-Author(s): Abdullah Al Maruf, S-M Shaheen, Ryden McCloud, Madison Heintz, Laina McAusland, Paul D. Arnold, Chad A. Bousman

Date and time: 25 Mar 2023 from 15:45 to 16:00

Location: Hawthorn B  

Learning Objectives

1. Identify the proportion of youth taking psychotropic medications that are incongruent with their pharmacogenetic profile;
2. Recognize psychotropic prescribing patterns for youth in Western Canada as they relate to medications with actionable pharmacogenetic-based dosing guidelines;
3. Understand the potential utility of pharmacogenetic testing in guiding psychotropic prescribing practices.

Abstract

Introduction

Youth are frequently prescribed psychotropic medications for moderate to severe mental health conditions. Pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing could potentially streamline current prescribing practices, which are often trial-and-error and complicated by side effects and lack of efficacy. Here, we estimated the proportion of youth who may benefit from PGx-guided psychotropic prescribing.

Methods

Participants aged 6-24 years were recruited through the Pharmacogenetic-Supported Prescribing in Kids study, an ongoing 12-month mirror image trial that is evaluating the implementation of PGx testing for children, adolescents, and emerging adults receiving mental health care in Western Canada. CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 testing results were used to calculate the proportion of participants with actionable genotypes for psychotropic medications with an available PGx-based dosing guideline. We also calculated the proportion of youth who were currently taking a psychotropic medication that was incongruent with their genotype.

Results

Among the 538 participants included in this analysis, 82% had an actionable CYP2C19 (58.4%) or CYP2D6 genotype (52.0%). Sertraline (18%), fluvoxamine (9%), risperidone (8%), aripiprazole (7%), and atomoxetine (6%) were the most frequently prescribed psychotropic medications with a PGx-based dosing guideline. Furthermore, 10.2% of participants were currently taking a medication that was incongruent with their CYP2C19 or CYP2D6 genotype.

Conclusion

Prescribing of psychotropic medications with available PGx-based guidelines is common among youth and approximately one in every 10 youth are taking psychotropic medications that are incongruent with their PGx profile. These findings suggest that there is a potential benefit for PGx testing amongst pediatric populations taking psychotropic medications within Western Canada.

Literature References

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