Psychiatric Disorders in Ireland
Genetic Testing for Psychiatric Disorders in Ireland
A 2021 study by the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences amongst over 4000 adolescents reported 29% describing their mental health as “bad” or “very bad” and 11% reported attempting suicide in their lifetimes. Research by academics from Maynooth University, National College of Ireland, and Trinity College Dublin in 2022 has found that 42% of Irish adults have a mental health disorder and more than one in ten have attempted suicide.
Psychiatric disorders are highly heritable. Family studies have shown that
- first-degree relatives of a person with a psychiatric disorder are more likely to arise than in the general population or of people with no psychiatric disorder.
- for second and third-degree relatives, the risk is also higher than for the general population.
- for schizophrenia or bipolar disorders, the risk for first-degree relatives is on average four times higher.
Genetic investigation of psychiatric disorders is currently based solely on
Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA also known as SNP or CGH-array), which is used to identify chromosomal microdeletions and microduplications. The most common is the 22q11.2 microdeletion, responsible for Di George syndrome, and associated with a 25-30% increased risk of developing schizophrenia in adulthood.
However, the diagnostic yield of this approach is limited. The advent of sequencing, such as whole exome sequencing, has shown its value in many rare diseases, with a diagnostic yield of around 30%. WES is promising for psychiatric diseases.
Whole Exome Sequencing test:
Test Request form: https://www.eurofins-biomnis.com/referentiel/liendoc/renseignements/INTGB/B110-INTGB-Profil_pharmacogenetique.pdf
Pharmacogenetics (PGx) testing for Psychiatric Disorders
Mental disorders are challenging conditions and are prevalent in Ireland. The PGx test is the perfect companion diagnostic tool for psychiatric disorders.
Pharmaco Genetics enables a more personalized approach to psychiatric treatment by identifying DNA sequence variants that can dramatically affect patient outcomes and help to avoid adverse drug reactions.
Certain individuals metabolize antidepressants either too slowly or too quickly, which can lead to side effects or lack of efficacy. By identifying these variations beforehand, clinicians can reduce the trial-and-error process and prescribe medications more safely and effectively.
In the future, everyone may have a PGx passport to predict their response to certain drugs. PGx supports personalized treatment.
