Work

Pharmacogenetic-guided antidepressant prescribing in youth depression: feasibility, clinical utility, and implementation in Western Australia

Year: 2026

Type: dissertation

Abstract: Depression in youth is a major public health concern, with antidepressant pharmacotherapy often limited by variable efficacy, tolerability, and clinical trial-and-error prescribing. This thesis explored the role of pharmacogenetics (PGx) in guiding antidepressant prescribing in youth. Across qualitative, clinical trial, and treatment-resistant depression studies, findings demonstrated that youth are receptive to PGx-guided care, triple-blind PGx trials are feasible, and PGx may improve treatment outcomes and quality-of-life, with findings supporting its use to personalise prescribing rather than predict treatment outcomes. These findings provide an important foundation for the future of precision psychiatry and PGx within youth mental health services in Australia.

Source: UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA)

DOI: 10.26182/2sk7-0w50

Author: Roberts, Bradley

Institution: The University of Western Australia

Language: English

Topic: Pharmacogenetics and Drug Metabolism

Subfield: Pharmacology

Field: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian Government, Stan Perron Charitable Foundation