Pharmacogenetics of Antidepressant Drugs: An Update

Pharmacological treatment of depressive disorders is characterized by poor predictability of individual response. In recent years, the increasing evidence has demonstrated that genetic factors play a critical role in determining the differences in treatment outcome to antidepressant drugs. A number of pharmacogenetic studies on antidepressant drugs has been conducted, and genetic variations at level of drug metabolizing enzymes, drug transporters and drug targets, possibly influencing the clinical response, have been identified. Pharmacogenetics may hopefully provide the basis for individualized pharmacotherapy of depressive disorders in order to maximize the probability of a favorable response and minimize the risk of adverse drug reactions. In this article, the major findings related to the pharmacogenetics of genes involved in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antidepressant drugs are critically reviewed.