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Journal article
Exploring perceived barriers and attitudes in young adults towards antidepressant pharmacotherapy, including the implementation of pharmacogenetic testing to optimize prescription practices
Frontiers in pharmacology, Vol.15, 1526101
2025
Abstract
Introduction: The field of pharmacogenetics (PGx) is experiencing significant growth, with increasing evidence to support its application in psychiatric care, suggesting its potential to personalize treatment plans, optimize medication efficacy, and reduce adverse drug reactions. However, the perceived utility and practicability of PGx for psychiatric treatment in youth remains underexplored. This study investigated perceived barriers and attitudes in Australian young adults towards the implementation of PGx testing to guide antidepressant treatment in primary care.
Methods: Semi-structured focus groups and interviews were conducted with 17 participants aged between 18 and 24 years. These sessions were recorded and transcribed before thematic analysis was used to identify collective themes.
Results: Three key themes were identified, including attitudes towards the medication prescription process, concerns and attitudes towards PGx testing, and perceived barriers to its clinical implementation. Although PGx testing was positively perceived by most participants, all participants shared concerns about PGx testing. Participants voiced concerns about the financial impact of PGx testing, the potential for treatment delays, and the accuracy of PGx testing in guiding antidepressant treatment. Additionally, participants noted that the low awareness and willingness of general practitioners to incorporate PGx testing into routine practice could hinder successful clinical implementation.
Discussion: Prior to the implementation of PGx testing into Australian primary practices, it is essential to acknowledge patient perspectives and ensure that clinical practices remain patient-focused. This study highlights important considerations for integrating PGx testing into antidepressant pharmacotherapy and emphasizes the need for future research to address and mitigate the perceived barriers of young adults.
Details
- Title
- Exploring perceived barriers and attitudes in young adults towards antidepressant pharmacotherapy, including the implementation of pharmacogenetic testing to optimize prescription practices
- Authors/Creators
- Bradley Roberts - Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational ScienceZahra CooperGeorgia Landery - The University of Western AustraliaSusanne Stanley - The University of Western AustraliaBernadette T. Majda - The University of Notre Dame AustraliaKhan R. L. Collins - North Metropolitan Health ServiceP. Anthony Akkari - Murdoch University, Personalised Medicine CentreSean D. Hood - The University of Western AustraliaJennifer Rodger - The University of Western Australia
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in pharmacology, Vol.15, 1526101
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media S.A.
- Number of pages
- 13
- Grant note
- Sarich familyAustralian Government Research Training Program (RTP)Perron Institute Byron Kakulas Prestige scholarship
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The authors wish to acknowledge philanthropic support from the Sarich family. BR was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP), and a Perron Institute Byron Kakulas Prestige scholarship. The funders had no role in the present study, the preparation of the manuscript, nor the decision to publish.
- Identifiers
- 991005732482307891
- Copyright
- © 2025 Roberts et al.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics; Personalised Medicine Centre
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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