A Stratified Treatment Algorithm in Psychiatry: A program on stratified pharmacogenomics in severe mental illness

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Our publications, clinical studies, reports and press releases.

Transdiagnostic Effects of Schizophrenia Polygenic Scores on Treatment Outcomes in Major Psychiatric Disorders

March 15, 2025

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Schizophrenia polygenic scores (SCZ PRS) represent the collective influence of many genetic variants, that individually have only small effects, on a person’s risk to develop schizophrenia (SCZ). They are studied as a predictor for many traits and outcomes in mental illness. In this review, the authors examine the association of SCZ PRS with treatment outcomes across SCZ, major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar disorder (BD). A higher SCZ PRS has been associated with poorer treatment outcomes, including treatment resistance or non-remission to antidepressants in MDD, poorer response to antipsychotics in SCZ, and lower lithium efficacy in BD. SCZ PRS are also associated with persistent negative symptoms, cognitive impairments, and long-term illness severity in SCZ. Currently, the predictive power of SCZ PRS alone it too small to be useful in clinical care. However, combining SCZ PRS with environmental factors, other biological information, and neuroimaging data could improve prediction models. Despite some variation in findings, the overall evidence suggests that SCZ PRS has a cross-diagnostic influence on disease progression and treatment outcomes and can be one important puzzle piece in the ongoing efforts towards precision psychiatry.

A stratified treatment algorithm in psychiatry: a program on stratified pharmacogenomics in severe mental illness (Psych-STRATA): concept, objectives and methodologies of a multidisciplinary project funded by Horizon Europe

December 27, 2024

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In this article, the Psych-STRATA project is presented: a multidisciplinary initiative aimed at improving the early identification and treatment of treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. The project takes a comprehensive approach involving the identification of genetic and clinical biomarkers, testing early intensified pharmacological treatment in a randomized controlled trial, and developing machine learning models for personalized therapy. A shared decision-making framework, including a mental health board and digital tools is implemented, alongside patient empowerment efforts. Finally, drug repurposing and AI-driven treatment recommendations aim to advance personalized, evidence-based psychiatric care.

Polygenic risk scores of lithium response and treatment resistance in major depressive disorder

September 28, 2023

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In this article, the authors describe an increased genetic load for lithium treatment response in patients who suffer treatment-resistant depression (TRD) when compared to depressive patients without TRD (they respond well to antidepressant pharmacological treatment). On the other hand, TRD and non-TRD patients did not show differences regarding the genetic load for antidepressant treatment response. Taken together, these results describe the existence of a genetic profile of lithium-sensitivity in TRD that could explain the efficacy of lithium to treat TRD.

Genomic Stratification of Clozapine Prescription Patterns Using Schizophrenia Polygenic Scores

January 15, 2023

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In this article, the authors observe that the genetic load for schizophrenia is associated with the highest clozapine dose in patients who suffer schizophrenia. It is noteworthy to mention that these researchers replicated this finding in 3 independent samples, the gold standard when it comes to validate the results of a genetic study.