HomeProvider StoriesObjective evidence helps foster patient relationship Objective evidence helps foster patient relationship July 23, 2020 Zhan Yang, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BCTexas As the founder and owner of New Vision Psychiatry & Wellness, I specialize in the treatment and management of mood, anxiety and ADHD disorders, with a special interest in the treatment of OCD, depression and anxiety. I earned my doctorate and am an assistant professor at the University of Texas-Arlington. Many of the patients we see in my clinic have already been treated elsewhere for their depression. Some of the patients have already tried one (or two or ten) different depression medications. So, they are already treatment resistant at that point. The patients who have gone through this trial-and-error process and the failing of medications are often frustrated and fearful. They may have experienced horrible side effects, so they come to me and aren’t confident that I will be able to do anything different than their previous doctors. Objective Evidence & the GeneSight Psychotropic Test I first learned about the GeneSight Psychotropic test from one of my professors in college. In her lesson about pharmacogenomics, she shared the results of her own GeneSight test. It was very interesting, and I was impressed that she was sharing something so personal and that it was rooted in scientific data. When I started my practice, I knew that I wanted to use the GeneSight test with my patients. Prior to becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner, I was a mechanical engineer in Singapore and Sweden, so scientific data is very important to me. I want things to be black-and-white and I want objective evidence. The GeneSight test provides some of that objective evidence. Using the report, I can learn about the patient’s genetic makeup. When I explain the report to my patient, they can see that there might be a genetic reason why the medication they had previously tried didn’t work. As a result, this tool helps me to improve the rapport with my patient and gives us both some confidence that the next medication they are prescribed may work better than their previous medications. Helping Patients Who Have Tried Many Medications I now order the GeneSight test about 2-3 times a week, depending on how many of my new patients have previously tried medications. I have a number of success stories from ordering the GeneSight test for my patients. For example, I have a teenage patient who suffered from really bad depression and anxiety. Her previous medication didn’t alleviate her symptoms and she suffered numerous adverse effects. She became so sick that she had to stay home from school and her mom began to homeschool her. Both she and her parents were so exasperated and scared. Due to her previous experience with medication and their trepidation with trying anything new, I ordered the GeneSight test. When the test came back, I studied the results. Based on what she had tried previously and other factors, I was able to select a new medication that we could try. I’m happy to say that the medication has helped her – she is feeling better and, in fact, she is back to school. I would tell other clinicians considering the GeneSight test this is a helpful tool in the decision-making process. For me, the GeneSight test has really helped me in my practice because it has helped provide genetic information I didn’t have before and it helps me improve my patient rapport. Patient MTHFR Mutations: Clinical Implications and Management Strategies MTHFR mutations—changes in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene—have gained increased attention in the medical community due to their potent... Read more Patient Can an App Help Me Manage My Anxiety? Health and wellness smartphone apps have become so common that if you can name a health goal, desire or condition, you can probably find an app for it. N... Read more Patient Black Trailblazers of Psychiatry and Mental Health: A Legacy of Healing and Advocacy As we celebrate Black History Month, we want to recognize a few individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of psychiatry and mental heal... Read more 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 Patient Hints To Help You Have A Better New Year The holidays have ended, and a new year has begun—a time when many embrace a fresh start by setting New Year’s resolutions. This year, why not consider s... Read more Patient Movement as Medicine: Solutions for Anxiety Moving forward. It sounds like a nice idea, especially when you’re feeling stuck deep in the throes of an anxiety spiral. But it turns out that physically m... Read more Patient Weight-Loss Drugs and Mental Health: What You Need to Know New medications for weight loss seem to be flying off pharmacy shelves these days. But could they be linked to mental health conditions? Researchers are ... Read more Patient 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We’re thrilled to share that 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We're so grateful to the dedicated healthcare providers who... Read more Patient The Model Minority Myth and Mental Health The model minority myth stereotypes one cultural group, typically Asian Americans, as “intelligent, hard-working, and diligent and therefore more academically, ... Read more Healthcare Provider How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied Acts of bullying can cause feelings of fear, loneliness and sadness, as well as depressi... Read more Learn more Learn more about GeneSight How to talk to your provider View our clinical studies
Patient MTHFR Mutations: Clinical Implications and Management Strategies MTHFR mutations—changes in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene—have gained increased attention in the medical community due to their potent... Read more
Patient Can an App Help Me Manage My Anxiety? Health and wellness smartphone apps have become so common that if you can name a health goal, desire or condition, you can probably find an app for it. N... Read more
Patient Black Trailblazers of Psychiatry and Mental Health: A Legacy of Healing and Advocacy As we celebrate Black History Month, we want to recognize a few individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of psychiatry and mental heal... Read more
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
Patient Hints To Help You Have A Better New Year The holidays have ended, and a new year has begun—a time when many embrace a fresh start by setting New Year’s resolutions. This year, why not consider s... Read more
Patient Movement as Medicine: Solutions for Anxiety Moving forward. It sounds like a nice idea, especially when you’re feeling stuck deep in the throes of an anxiety spiral. But it turns out that physically m... Read more
Patient Weight-Loss Drugs and Mental Health: What You Need to Know New medications for weight loss seem to be flying off pharmacy shelves these days. But could they be linked to mental health conditions? Researchers are ... Read more
Patient 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We’re thrilled to share that 3 million patients (and counting!) have now taken the GeneSight test! We're so grateful to the dedicated healthcare providers who... Read more
Patient The Model Minority Myth and Mental Health The model minority myth stereotypes one cultural group, typically Asian Americans, as “intelligent, hard-working, and diligent and therefore more academically, ... Read more
Healthcare Provider How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied How Clinicians Can Help Support Their Patients Who Are Being Bullied Acts of bullying can cause feelings of fear, loneliness and sadness, as well as depressi... Read more