Background: Medication side effects and limited efficacy are substantial problems in general and also in psychopharmaceuticals. Previous studies have shown that pharmacogenetic individual characteristics can be relevant.
Aim: To arrive at a responsible use of pharmacogenetics, exploiting its potential but also avoiding overdiagnosis.
Method: To provide an overview of the current status quo in the field of pharmacogenetics in psychiatry.
Results: The Dutch Association for Psychiatrists (NVvP) authorized a guideline ‘Pharmacogenetics in Psychiatry’ that is summarized. Also the current international guidelines and clinical implementation of pharmacogenetics are discussed.
Conclusion: For the time being, pharmacogenetics seems to be indicated only when patients have already experienced problems with psychopharmaca use, such as side effects and/or inefficacy. If genotyping is requested then generally CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 can be useful, as dosage recommendations are available in case of genetic variants.