1. Home
  2. Provider Stories
  3. 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.

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.

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

Mindful Moments: Tips for Anxiety

If a well-meaning friend or family member has ever told you to “just breathe” when you’re feeling worked up or stressed out, you’d be forgiven if you felt l...

Read more

    Learn more

    Learn more about GeneSight
    How to talk to your provider
    View our clinical studies

    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.

    Take the Next Step - PD

    1. Step 1
    2. Step 2
    3. Step 3
    Please provide us with your name



    1. Step 1
    2. Step 2
    3. Step 3
    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








    1. Step 1
    2. Step 2
    3. Step 3

    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.