GeneSight® testing offers a personalized approach to mental healthcare by analyzing how your genetics influence your medication response. At Silver Lining Psychiatry and Wellness in Chandler, Arizona, Chrissy McLaughlin, PMHNP-BC, uses this advanced tool to help tailor treatments just for you. GeneSight testing allows her to find the right medication faster, improving your path to feeling better. Text today to book an appointment or use the online scheduling tool when you’re ready.
GeneSight testing is a type of pharmacogenomic test that analyzes how your genes may affect your response to certain psychiatric medications. It helps Chrissy, as your healthcare provider, to make more informed decisions when prescribing medications for mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and others.
By examining specific genetic markers, GeneSight testing provides personalized insights into which medications may be most effective for you and which are more likely to cause side effects or be less effective.
Chrissy recommends GeneSight testing if you’ve tried multiple psychiatric medications without success or experienced unwanted side effects. The test is especially helpful when there’s uncertainty about which medication to choose or when previous treatment plans haven’t led to symptom relief.
The GeneSight test is simple and noninvasive. It typically involves a cheek swab at Silver Lining Psychiatry and Wellness or home.
Once collected, your DNA sample is analyzed at a lab for genetic variations that affect how your body metabolizes and responds to specific medications. The results are organized into a color-coded report that categorizes medications into three groups:
Chrissy uses this information, along with your medical history and symptoms, to make a more tailored treatment plan.
GeneSight testing offers several benefits. It can reduce the trial-and-error process often involved in finding the right psychiatric medication. By identifying drugs that may be more effective or better tolerated based on your genetic makeup, GeneSight can help speed up the process of finding relief.
It may also lower the risk of side effects, improve treatment adherence, and increase the overall effectiveness of your mental healthcare. While it’s not a magic solution, GeneSight provides valuable information that supports more precise, personalized treatment decisions in mental healthcare.
Learn more about GeneSight testing by booking an appointment via text or using the online scheduler on the website at any time, day or night.