Our patients tell their stories - the impact of genetic testing on the effectiveness of psychiatric treatment.
”I am a 67 year old woman who has had depression as long as I can remember. (…) I had asked my doctor if there were blood tests for the medication. I was disappointed to discover there were no tests. I came across an article about your research with DNA and (…) a more precise approach to medication. I hope I see the day that I can take medication that will help me be joyful. Keep up the good work.”
— Our Patient
“If I had presented this pharmacogenetic test to my GP ahead of time, it could have saved me a month of struggle and adverse effects. If the test had been done in 2010, it could have saved me a decade of time. It could also have given me more confidence to continue with pharmacological treatment in 2015. However, whether it is months or years, any amount of time is crucial in recovery, as depression affects functioning at all vital levels (work, relationships, recreation time and more). “
— Our Patient
The Power of Personalized Medicine
“My name is Larry Meikle. I’m a retired Ontario civil servant and a student in the University of King’s College Master of Fine Arts program in Creative Nonfiction Writing, where I’m in the process of writing my first book.
This past year I’ve felt better than I have for decades. I would not be a graduate student today if I were feeling the way I did even a year ago, had I not participated in CAMH’s IMPACT study on mental health problems and DNA.”
Read more about Larry Meikle’s story on the CAMH website.
My Journey to the Find the Right Medication
“After trying several medications while living abroad, I was put on Agomelatine, which was successful for some time. Within a year, I had moved back to Canada, where Agomelatine was unavailable. Again, I tried a few medications that had horrible side effects. I was at the end of my rope in terms of solutions. I couldn’t imagine going through another ‘trial and error process where I’d essentially be shooting in the dark, hoping for a positive result, if any.
Given my genetic profile, the test report eliminated most medications for me, leaving a list of two options, one of which I’d tried before. I tried the last option on the list, Desvenlafaxine, which finally worked. Though it had some side effects, they were bearable this time. I noticed an improvement in my mood very quickly, and within six months, I was a new person. Finally!
Suppose this had been made available to me earlier on in my battle with depression. In that case, I could have saved myself months of physical side effects and feelings of hopelessness. I think every patient should have access to this testing as I genuinely believe it saved me.
In terms of future outlook, it would be helpful to have access to my health results and records, as I’ve struggled to remember dates, medications and so on when moving doctors and living abroad. I am therefore welcoming Dr. Mueller’s new efforts to develop new patient portals to access electronic medical records, including genetic testing results.” - Our Patient