PHARMACOGENETICS APPLIED TO PSYCHIATRY: INFLUENCE OF GENETIC POLYMORPHISMS ON RESPONSE TO PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATIONS

Abstract

Variability in response to psychotropic drugs represents one of the main challenges in the treatment of psychiatric disorders and is often associated with individual genetic factors. In this context, pharmacogenetics emerges as a promising tool in personalized medicine, as it investigates the influence of genetic polymorphisms on therapeutic efficacy and the occurrence of adverse reactions. The present study aimed to analyze, through a systematic review, the impact of these genetic variations on the response to psychotropic drugs. The methodology followed PRISMA guidelines, with a search conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE database, considering studies published between 2021 and 2026, resulting in the selection of 11 articles. The results show that polymorphisms in genes related to the cytochrome P450 system, such as CYP2D6 and CYP2C19, as well as in transporters and receptors, significantly influence pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and treatment safety. Furthermore, it was observed that therapeutic response has a polygenic nature and that factors such as drug interactions and clinical conditions may modify the metabolic phenotype, a phenomenon known as phenoconversion. Despite its clinical relevance, the implementation of pharmacogenetics still faces operational challenges, such as test turnaround time and structural limitations. It is concluded that integrating pharmacogenetics into psychiatric practice may contribute to individualized treatment, promoting greater therapeutic efficacy and reduction of adverse events, although its application still depends on advances in infrastructure and clinical incorporation.