Pharmacogenetics and psychiatry.

Genetic factors play a significant role in predicting an individual's response to a drug. The response may be the desired therapeutic effect of the drug and also may be the undesirable development of adverse effects. This relationship between genes and drug response interests the pharmacogeneticist. This article aims to give an overview of the exciting discoveries made so far in the field of psychiatry, particularly concerning the response to antidepressants and antipsychotics, as well as to mention some of the more recent findings. The ultimate goal of pharmacogenetics is to provide medication "tailored" to the individual based on their genetic profile, and although this may currently seem a distant target, it has already begun to raise ethical questions, which also are discussed.