Pharmacogenomics: an opportunity for personalised psychotropic prescribing in adults with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

Summary There is growing evidence for the use of pharmacogenomics in psychotropic prescribing. People with intellectual disabilities are disproportionately prescribed psychotropics and are at risk of polypharmacy. There is an urgent need for safeguards to prevent psychotropic overprescribing but it is equally crucial that this population is not left behind in such exciting initiatives. Understanding how genetic variations affect medications is a step towards personalised medicine. This may improve personalised prescribing for people with intellectual disabilities, especially given the high rate of psychiatric and behavioural problems in this population. Our editorial explores opportunities and challenges that pharmacogenomics offers for the challenges of polypharmacy and overprescribing of psychotropics in people with intellectual disabilities.

Designing genetic studies for people with intellectual disabilities: Practical lessons from a pilot study

“…Finding a representative expert population to meaningfully contribute to such complex and heterogenous studies can be challenging. However, given the importance of the topic and its future relevance and expected expansion there needs to be increased discussion on how to make such projects inclusive to capture views and opinions of experts by experience (Alexander et al, 2021; Perera et al, 2022).…”

“…Identifying genetic conditions linked to physical and mental disorders can reduce health inequalities and premature death, and aid PwID in understanding and managing their condition (Adlington et al, 2019). It can also be the pre-cursor for delivering personalised and precision treatments using vehicles such as pharmacogenomics (Perera et al, 2022). However genetic investigation is not routine practice for PwID and comorbid disorders in the United Kingdom (De Villiers & Porteous, 2012).…”