Pharmacogenomics of depression

Pharmacotherapy of depression is characterized by poor predictability of individual response. In addition to pathophysiological and environmental factors, genetic factors appear to play an important role in determining differences in treatment outcome of antidepressant drugs (ADs). In recent years, a number of pharmacogenetic studies have been conducted on ADs, and genetic variations at the level of drug-metabolizing enzymes, drug transporters and drug targets that may influence the clinical response have been identified. Hopefully, pharmacogenetics will provide the basis for individualized pharmacotherapy of depressive disorders in order to maximize the probability of a favorable response and to minimize the risk of adverse drug reactions. In this chapter, the major findings related to the pharmacogenetics of genes involved in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ADs are critically reviewed.