Abstract
There is growing evidence for the use of pharmacogenomics in psychotropic prescribing. People with intellectual disabilities are disproportionately prescribed psychotropics and are at risk of polypharmacy. There is an urgent need for safeguards to prevent psychotropic overprescribing but it is equally crucial that this population is not left behind in such exciting initiatives. Understanding how genetic variations affect medications is a step towards personalised medicine. This may improve personalised prescribing for people with intellectual disabilities, especially given the high rate of psychiatric and behavioural problems in this population. Our editorial explores opportunities and challenges that pharmacogenomics offers for the challenges of polypharmacy and overprescribing of psychotropics in people with intellectual disabilities.
DOI
10.1192/bjo.2022.554
Publication Date
2022-08-17
Publication Title
BJPsych Open
Volume
8
Issue
5
Organisational Unit
Peninsula Medical School
Recommended Citation
Perera, B., Steward, C., Courtenay, K., Andrews, T., & Shankar, R. (2022) 'Pharmacogenomics', BJPsych Open, 8(5). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2022.554
