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Depression in Older Adults

There is a common misconception, especially among older adults, that depression is a normal part of aging. It’s not.

Explore the resources below to learn more about treating depression in older adults and how the GeneSight® Psychotropic test can help.

How can the GeneSight® Test help depression treatment for older adults?

Clinicians may face many challenges when treating older adults, such as increased drug-drug interactions and higher rates of side effects.

The GeneSight Psychotropic test may help. The GeneSight test is a pharmacogenomic test that evaluates genetic variations in your patient’s DNA, and the results can inform you on how your patient may metabolize or respond to medications commonly prescribed to treat depression, anxiety, ADHD and other psychiatric conditions.

Learn more about GeneSight

How Does Depression in Older Adults Differ from Depression in Younger Patients?

In addition to the typical symptoms of depression (persistent feelings of sadness, irritability, loss of interest in activities, feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, and sometimes, thoughts of suicide1, older adults may exhibit additional symptoms, including:

Avoiding social interactions

such as wanting to stay home rather than socialize or do new things

Physical complaints

such as physical aches or pains, fatigue, or loss of appetite

Cognitive problems

such as an inability to concentrate or remember things

Challenges of treating depression in older adults

When treating elderly patients for depression, clinicians may face challenges such as:

  • Increased drug-drug interactions due to polypharmacy
  • Lower adherence
  • Higher rates of side effects
  • Greater number of comorbidities

Elderly patients may also have impaired production of CYP450 enzymes which could affect drug metabolism rate.

To help avoid the problems that can result from these factors, physicians can reference published guidelines to help make critical medication decisions. The GeneSight test can also provide genetic information to help inform a clinician’s medication selection.

A comprehensive report,
personalized for you

The GeneSight test provides genetic insights to help inform your clinician’s treatment plan, potentially reducing medication trial and error, and shortening your road to recovery.

The report also includes information on how a patient’s smoking status may affect their body’s metabolism of certain medications.

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  •  Use as directed
  •  Moderate gene-drug interaction
  •  Significant gene-drug interaction

The report classifies over 60 mental health medications into three categories.

The GeneSight test results do not provide information on disease diagnosis, medication allergies, drug-drug interactions, or which medications will work best.

Patients 65 or older who were part of the GUIDED study and received the GeneSight Psychotropic test experienced:

Directional improvement in symptoms
at week 8 compared to TAU

43% relative improvement in symptoms

8% absolute improvement in symptoms

Significantly higher response rates
at week 8 compared to TAU

84% relative improvement in response rates

14% absolute improvement in response rates

Significantly higher remission rates
at week 8 compared to TAU

172% relative improvement in remission rates

13% absolute improvement in remission rates

Take the next step with the GeneSight test

Take a step closer to getting the GeneSight test or registering to provide the test to your patients. We will follow up with additional information either via email or phone.

The GeneSight test must be ordered by a registered clinician. If you are a patient, caregiver or office staff who would like a clinician to be registered to administer the GeneSight test, please include their name and contact information.

If you are a current registered provider or tested patient, please contact us.

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Please provide us with your name



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Please provide contact and clinic information
Please provide contact information

We are asking for Date of Birth for data verification purposes.










We are asking for Date of Birth for data verification purposes.

If you do not have a clinician, we have a directory of healthcare providers who are registered to order the GeneSight test. When you complete this form, we will link you to this directory, so you will have the option to view registered GeneSight providers in your area.







Your clinician who is currently managing your medication and making treatment decisions can order your GeneSight test.

If you do not have a clinician, we have a directory of healthcare providers who are registered to order the GeneSight test. When you complete this form, we will link you to this directory, so you will have the option to view registered GeneSight providers in your area.

Please provide your clinician's information
The GeneSight test must be ordered by your clinician








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How can we help?
When completed, we'll follow up with more information
Please let us know how we can best help you
When completed, we'll follow up with more information

If you are a patient or a caregiver and would like to request a copy of your results, please complete the Patient Report Request form here








Contact Information

By submitting your information in this form, you agree that your personal information may be stored and processed in any country where we have facilities or service providers, and by using our “Take the Next Step” page you agree to the possible transfer of information to countries outside of your country of residence, including to the United States, which may provide for different data protection rules than in your country. The information you submit will be utilized for the sole purpose it was submitted for and governed by our Privacy Notice.

Resources for treating depression in older adults

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