The need to improve current psychopharmacotherapy before developing new drugs

Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2014 Oct;15(14):1969-73. doi: 10.1517/14656566.2014.941806. Epub 2014 Aug 22.

Abstract

CNS research has become unprofitable, and several pharmaceutical companies have reduced financial support for developing new CNS drugs. Until the situation can be changed, it is our duty to optimize the usage of the currently available psychoactive drugs. Several tools for optimizing pharmacotherapy are available, such as therapeutic drug monitoring and genotyping and phenotyping CYP enzymes. Further medical treatment and healthcare provision for patients with severe mental disorders should be improved. Knowledge of psychopharmacotherapy influences the choices of medication and outcomes; therefore, future psychiatrists should have a greater knowledge of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenetics.

Keywords: genotyping; non-adherence; phenotyping; psychopharmacotherapy; therapeutic drug monitoring; treatment optimization.

Publication types

  • Editorial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / genetics
  • Drug Industry
  • Drug Monitoring
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Mental Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Pharmacogenetics
  • Precision Medicine
  • Psychotropic Drugs / pharmacokinetics
  • Psychotropic Drugs / pharmacology
  • Psychotropic Drugs / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Psychotropic Drugs
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System