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Welcome to GeneIDs - Your Solution for Genetic Analysis | |||||
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Genetic testing for diagnostics, prevention, and personalized treatment of mental (neuropsychiatric) disorders | |||||
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Diagnostics and Treatment of Mental Disorders: Present and Future For
millions affected by mental disorders, the conventional "trial and
error" antidepressant therapy results in low efficiency, adverse side effects
and high costs of treatment. Mental or neuropsychiatric disorders include major
depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), alcoholism, drug addiction, compulsive
gambling, and many others.
The choice
of pharmacological therapy for mental disorders is based on the diagnosis
according to DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) by the
use of SCID (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM). Considering that different
mental disorders share common symptoms, and that many factors influence the
reliability of a DSM interview instrument such as the SCID, the reliability of
DSM-based diagnosis and of the corresponding choice of treatment is inherently
limited.
In the near future genetic testing will become a requirement for diagnostics of mental disorders and prescription of antidepressants. |
Molecular Genetic Origins of Mental Disorders Research data indicate that mental disorders are caused primarily by abnormal functioning of different brain neurotransmitter systems, including serotonin (molecule of happiness), dopamine (molecule of reward), norepinephrine (excitory neurotransmitter), glutamate (excitory neurotransmitter), GABA (inhibitory, sedation neurotransmitter), etc. That is why most of the modern antidepressants (e.g. SSRIs, SNRIs, NRIs, DRIs, gabapentin, benzodiazepines) are designed to target neurotransmission pathways, such as serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and GABA. Self-medicating with alcohol and drugs compensates for disruptions in neurotransmitter pathways, and, while alleviating the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other common psychiatric disorders, leads to chronic addiction. The disruptions in brain neurotransmitter systems result from genetic modifications (DNA polymorphisms) in multiple genes controlling brain neurotransmission. That is why genetics is the main factor determining development of mental disorders. Based on genetic association studies showing genetic heterogeneity in each mental disorder category, it appears that the symptoms of each mental disorder may be related to abnormal functioning of either or a combination of different brain neurotransmitter systems. To this day the scientific community cannot link a "genetic signature" to each particular DSM disorder name because each mental disorder was and still is studied as a separate condition with a unique genetic background. In contrast, we perceive all mental disorders as phenotypic variations of the same condition with identical genetic background. Considering a) the limitations of DSM diagnosis and b) the fact that same DNA polymorphisms show associations across the spectrum of mental disorders, the GeneID's Concept of Genetic Profiles in Mental Disorders and in Response to Antidepressants (patent pending) states that: 1. Most if not all mental disorders may share the same genetic profile, i.e. the incidences of different mental disorders are associated with same DNA polymorphisms regardless of the name of a disorder.
2. The response to pharmacological treatment is primarily determined by the genotype of the patient regardless of the DSM-diagnosed name of mental disorder.
This Concept re-defines mental disorders both in terms of etiology and classification. |
Genetic Markers GeneIDs has developed diagnostic methods and offers genetic analysis of the following: Pharmacodynamic (PD) genetic markers: Five DNA polymorphisms in genes affecting neurotransmission of dopamine, serotonin, and GABA. Presense of DNA polymorphisms indicates predisposition to a mental disorder. Purpose of diagnostics: 1) Making right choice of treatment (personalized treatment), i.e. selection of medication(s) that will correct neurotransmission defects in a given patient with mental disorder. 2) To diagnose the presence of or the predisposition to a mental disorder by detecting DNA polymorphisms associated with mental disorders. Pharmacokinetic (PK) genetic markers: DNA polymorphisms in cytochrome (CYP) genes affecting metabolism of medications (antidepressants). Presense of DNA polymorphisms indicates altered response or adverse reaction to some antidepressants. Purpose of diagnostics: Determination of correct dosage or counter indication of specific medications. We use these polymorphisms for diagnostics because their associations with mental disorders and with response to antidepressants have been reproduced by independent research groups using different patients’ and control samples. We have also observed that these DNA polymorphisms show associations across the spectrum of mental disorders. At GeneIDs we use molecular diagnostic methods that allow rapid and precise genetic analysis from a saliva sample.
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Applications of
GeneIDs' Molecular Diagnostics:
- Diagnostics of mental disorders: for patients, doctors, rehabilitation centers
- Identification of predisposition to mental disorders: for patients, doctors
- Personalized treatment of mental disorders (diagnostics of individual response to various categories of medications): for patients, doctors, rehabilitation centers
- Genetic evidence in litigations: for lawyers, defendants, law enforcement organizations
- Companion diagnostics in clinical trials: for pharmaceutical companies, research institutions
Contact:
877-664-3869
info@geneids.com
IMPORTANT: GeneIDs does not provide medical advice or medical treatment and is not responsible for your treatment outcomes. We are a genetic testing facility only.
See your health care provider to determine your treatment solution based on genetic profile.
© 2007-2012, GeneIDs, Inc.