Pharmacogenetics of ethnic populations

This volume covers topics including cultural perspectives in psychiatric diagnosis and psychopharmacotherapy, differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of psychotropics, pharmacogenetics of ethnic populations, ethnic variations in psychotropic responses, complementary medicines in mental disorders, attitudes towards psychotropic medications, prescribing practices in Asia-Pacific countries, pharmaco-economic implications, integrating theory and practice, and... 

Pharmacogenetics of ethnic populations Table 5.3 Major cytochrome P isoenzymes... 

Abstract Pharmacogenetics as a field of research is increasing the basis of knowledge on the use of psychotropics in different ethnic patient populations. This chapter summarizes cur-rentknowledge on the metabolism of anxiolytic agents with emphasis on pharmacogenetics and ethnic variations in drug responses. 

Essential to the definition of Pharmacogenetics is the term genetic polymorphism. It is extrapolated that there are at least three million genetic polymorphisms in the human genome. Historically, a genetic polymorphism was defined as a genetic variation with a population frequency of 1% and above, but the larger inter-ethnic variation of population frequencies makes a strict definition based on such frequencies impractical. The most common molecular type of polymorphism is the... 

Significant ethnic variability is observed with many pharmacogenetic markers (38). Consequently, the demographics of the study population need to be taken into account when performing power analyses to determine the appropriate sample size. If the frequency of the polymorphism to be studied is unknown in any of the ethnic groups included in the study, the polymorphism should be screened in relevant population controls to determine their allele frequency. This will help to narrow down the number of polymorphisms to be included and prevent using finite patient DNA to assess markers that may have low frequency or be absent from the study population. 

In the fifth and final chapter, Drs. Roy V. Varner and Pedro Ruiz and David R. Small, M.B.A., address the need for investigational studies focusing on pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacogenetic factors in the public psychiatric sector. After all, it is in the public sector that most of the ethnic or cultural minority groups in the United States receive their psychiatric care. Also reviewed are the results of several studies of responses to antidepressants and neuroleptics by multiethnic populations treated in the public sector. 

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