New Landmark Study Shows Genetic Testing Can Improve Mental Health Outcomes for People with Depression
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 16 million people in the United States suffer from serious depression that often get worse without proper treatment.
Sufferers may exhibit symptoms, such as feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, thoughts of suicide, loss of interest in activities, withdrawal from social interaction, sleep and appetite problems, difficulty with concentrating and making decisions, decreased sex drive, a lack of energy, or agitation.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, the goal of treatment is remission, which means patients are no longer depressed. However, half of all patients with major depression will fail to respond to their first prescribed medication, leading patients on a medication odyssey of trial-and-error treatments that can last for years.
