HomeProvider StoriesIt’s this very simple cheek swab, and it’s going to tell us how each of the enzyme systems and how the patient’s going to metabolize the psych medication. It’s this very simple cheek swab, and it’s going to tell us how each of the enzyme systems and how the patient’s going to metabolize the psych medication. December 3, 2024 Dawn Johnson, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Read the transcript Whether it’s a coping mechanism, self medication, or addiction, we want to look at those behaviors because all three of those are unhealthy ways to respond to a stressor in life. My name is Dawn Johnson. I am a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. I work for Indiana Center for Recovery at the South Bend location. I typically treat patients with mental health and addictions. When a patient comes in to us and they’re needing treatment for mental health and addictions, we look at the whole person, their mental, physical, spiritual, their family. We want to look at what medications they’ve been on the past when they have tried to get help. So a lot of times when a patient comes in here, they’ve had a medication failure or more than one. And when they come to us by the time they get at this level of care, they typically are afraid of medications. And they’re going to tell me, I’m not going to be a guinea pig. You’re not going to throw meds at me and so that’s where GeneSight comes in really handy for us because we can show them no, you know, you’re not going to be a guinea pig. We can get this back in a few days, we can sit down and talk about what you’ve been on in the past and that gives them a lot of reassurance and comfort to know that we’re not just customizing the plan for them based on their genetic makeup. So the GeneSIght test is a genetic test that tells us how you metabolize medications. It’s this very simple cheek swab, and it’s going to tell us how each of the enzyme systems and how the patient’s going to metabolize the psych medication. So then we can make a good choice on which medication to to use to avoid side effects or just the medication being ineffective for the patient. When patients start to feel better and the substance of abuse is getting out of their system and the medications are starting to work, they usually their countenance will change, their face will brighten up, they will be happier, they will engage more with other people, they’ll stop isolating, that’s called peace. Patient Rooting for Mental Health Heroes at the 2026 Winter Olympics The Winter Olympics has brought us unforgettable moments—Miracle on Ice, Torvill and Dean’s Bolero, the Jamaican bobsled team. They also showed heartbreak: cras... Read more Healthcare Provider PRIME Care Time-to-Event Analysis In 2022, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) undertook the Precision Medicine in Mental Health Care, or PRIME Care study, the largest phar... Read more Patient Healthcare Provider The GeneSight® Test: Announces New Updates As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that our tests evolve with the latest scientific research and clinical needs, we’ve updated the GeneSight Test. Th... Read more Patient Is “Anxiety” on Your Playlist? “Anxiety, keep on tryin' me I feel it quietly, tryna silence me, yeah Anxiety, shake it off of me Somebody's watchin' me, it's my anxiety, yeah (Brrah) …And... Read more Patient Break the resolution cycle: How simple solutions can transform 2026 Like every year, many of us make New Year’s resolutions and try to stick to them, but broad, all-or-nothing changes often set us up for failure and can make... Read more Patient Antidepressant Fatigue in Seniors: A Caregiver’s Guide to Reducing Daytime Sleepiness Without Losing Symptom Control You’re spending time with the older adult in your care who also happens to have clinical depression. You’re keeping tabs on how well they’re doing and wheth... Read more Patient Empowering Senior Patient Care with Pharmacogenomics: Insights from the GeneSight Engage Webinar The most recent GeneSight Engage webinar explored how pharmacogenomic testing, particularly the GeneSight® test, is transforming the landscape of mental health ... Read more Patient BIPOC (formerly Minority) Mental Health Month: Breaking Stigma, Building Trust Despite many efforts to stem it, stigma around mental health still exists, particularly in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. July mark... Read more Patient Long-Term Effects of Antidepressants: What Research Shows Anyone who’s ever taken antidepressants for an extended period of time has probably wondered whether they’ll experience long-term effects: After years ... Read more Patient Have a Mindful Summer: Take a Breather with These Simple Exercises Summer is a great time to kick back and relax—if you can find the time. Managing the hustle and bustle of kids off school, planning for fun summer activities an... Read more Learn more Learn more about GeneSight How to talk to your provider View our clinical studies
Patient Rooting for Mental Health Heroes at the 2026 Winter Olympics The Winter Olympics has brought us unforgettable moments—Miracle on Ice, Torvill and Dean’s Bolero, the Jamaican bobsled team. They also showed heartbreak: cras... Read more
Healthcare Provider PRIME Care Time-to-Event Analysis In 2022, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) undertook the Precision Medicine in Mental Health Care, or PRIME Care study, the largest phar... Read more
Patient Healthcare Provider The GeneSight® Test: Announces New Updates As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that our tests evolve with the latest scientific research and clinical needs, we’ve updated the GeneSight Test. Th... Read more
Patient Is “Anxiety” on Your Playlist? “Anxiety, keep on tryin' me I feel it quietly, tryna silence me, yeah Anxiety, shake it off of me Somebody's watchin' me, it's my anxiety, yeah (Brrah) …And... Read more
Patient Break the resolution cycle: How simple solutions can transform 2026 Like every year, many of us make New Year’s resolutions and try to stick to them, but broad, all-or-nothing changes often set us up for failure and can make... Read more
Patient Antidepressant Fatigue in Seniors: A Caregiver’s Guide to Reducing Daytime Sleepiness Without Losing Symptom Control You’re spending time with the older adult in your care who also happens to have clinical depression. You’re keeping tabs on how well they’re doing and wheth... Read more
Patient Empowering Senior Patient Care with Pharmacogenomics: Insights from the GeneSight Engage Webinar The most recent GeneSight Engage webinar explored how pharmacogenomic testing, particularly the GeneSight® test, is transforming the landscape of mental health ... Read more
Patient BIPOC (formerly Minority) Mental Health Month: Breaking Stigma, Building Trust Despite many efforts to stem it, stigma around mental health still exists, particularly in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. July mark... Read more
Patient Long-Term Effects of Antidepressants: What Research Shows Anyone who’s ever taken antidepressants for an extended period of time has probably wondered whether they’ll experience long-term effects: After years ... Read more
Patient Have a Mindful Summer: Take a Breather with These Simple Exercises Summer is a great time to kick back and relax—if you can find the time. Managing the hustle and bustle of kids off school, planning for fun summer activities an... Read more