GeneSight® Testing: Your DNA Holds the Key to Finding the Right Antidepressant 

If you or someone you love is living with depression, you understand just how challenging it can be to get through the days and nights. Treatment can help, and antidepressants are a wonderful fit for some. 

As a certified psychiatric nurse practitioner, Grace Muthami of Brightmind Wellness can help you navigate your options through telepsychiatry services, including GeneSight® testing. Patients across Pennsylvania rely on Brightmind Wellness for outstanding mental health services, including medication management. 

Your genetic makeup can affect how medication works for you

While many people find talk therapy to be a great way to help manage depression, sometimes it isn’t enough. Antidepressant medications can be a game-changer for those who haven’t found relief  through other avenues. 

But there are numerous antidepressants to choose from, and finding the right fit isn’t always easy. One approach is to try a medication for a period of time and track how effective it is in controlling your depression. But, if that medication isn’t a good match, you’re left still needing  relief. 

Genetic testing works by evaluating your genes to better understand how your system is likely to respond to a variety of antidepressant medications. It gives Grace even more insight into which options offer the best fit. 

This information, in conjunction with the details you provide about your experience with depression and how your previous treatment efforts have worked, allows for highly customized treatment planning. 

The steps involved in GeneSight testing

The process is simple and straightforward. You begin by providing a sample of cells from the inside of your cheek. An easy self-collection kit allows you to gather these cells from home in a painless and swift process. 

You send the completed patient collection kit to the lab, where technicians run tests. They look at multiple genes known to play a role in depression, as well as more than 50 different antidepressant medications. 

Once the results are sent to Brightmind Wellness, you connect with Grace for a consultation to explore which medications offer a promising treatment path. The information provided through GeneSight also suggests the best possible dosing, and can even help you understand how lifestyle factors like smoking could affect your drug therapy. 

You’re not alone 

When you partner with Brightmind Wellness for mental health services, you are never alone in navigating depression or other challenges. Grace offers a number of tools and techniques that can help manage depression, including GeneSight testing. 

Advancements in medical technology and genetic testing have paved the way for a level of medication customization never before seen in mental health care. The information gained through this simple test can help you save thousands of dollars when compared with the previous trial-and-error approach to antidepressant treatment. It also offers a faster path to relief, which is essential for people whose lives are impacted by depression. 

Begin a path toward enhanced mental health today by booking a telehealth visit with Grace. You can schedule online in just a few moments, or call our office in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to check appointment availability.