Kronenberg, S: Pharmacogenetics of Depression

In 1987, the antidepressant drug Prozac© was launched in the USA. Prozac© was the first of its class - the class of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). This new class of drugs was considered to work miracles. It promised remission from depression within two months with only minimal side-effects. However, in recent years, reports of SSRI-induced suicidality have begun to emerge and there is a growing concern regarding the safety profile of this class, especially in the pediatric population. In 2004, the FDA presented reanalyzed data demonstrating an increased risk of drug induced suicidal behavioral (relative risk = 1.95). In other words, people who take SSRIs are about twice as likely to develop suicidal behavior compared with those treated with placebo. The purpose of the work presented in this book is to describe a method by which a physician would be able, using a simple blood test, to identify in advance those patients who are not likely to respond well to an SSRI. This in turn will be of great clinical utility, improve patient satisfaction, improve risk-benefit ratio and reduce the cost of mental health services.