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Pharmacopsychiatry 2020; 53(04): 155-161
DOI: 10.1055/a-0979-2322
Review

From the Origins of Pharmacogenetics to First Applications in Psychiatry

Daniel J. Müller
1   Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
2   Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
3   Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
,
Zoe Rizhanovsky
1   Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Abstract

Pharmacogenetics is the division of science addressing how genetic factors contribute to the metabolism, response, and side effects of a given medication. What was once regarded as a subdivision of genetics and pharmacology is now recognized as its own field and has its own unique story of origin. While the term “pharmacogenetics” was coined by Friedrich Vogel in 1959, the relevance of inherited genetic traits in affecting the clinical outcome to xenobiotics has been observed long before. In fact, there is much hope that pharmacogenetics can help unravel the “mysteries” as to why different people may display variable responses to the same medication as well as identify new drug targets. This article will highlight the conceptual framework for pharmacogenetics advanced by pioneer scientists Arno Motulsky and Friedrich Vogel (both human geneticists), as well as Werner Kalow (clinical pharmacologist), leading up to the creation of modern pharmacogenetics. Finally, the practical implications and first steps toward implementation for current psychiatric treatment are reviewed followed by an outlook on future studies.

Key words

pharmacogenetics - personalized medicine - psychopharmacology - antidepressants - antipsychotics


Publication History

Received: 12 March 2019
Received: 07 June 2019

Accepted: 11 July 2019

Article published online:
23 September 2019

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Stuttgart · New York

 

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