HomeProvider StoriesOne advantage of being able to incorporate the GeneSight test results into our treatment is that we’re seeing better outcomes One advantage of being able to incorporate the GeneSight test results into our treatment is that we’re seeing better outcomes June 11, 2024 Kyle John, Medical Director, Psychiatrist Read the transcript My philosophy towards patients is that I treat them the way I would want my own children treated. I don’t know why a physician would do it any other way. Hi. My name is Kyle John. I’m the medical director at The Arc of the Ozarks. One of the real advantages of being able to incorporate the GeneSight test results into our treatment is that, of course, we’re seeing better outcomes, which is always our goal–to get our patients to remission, which doesn’t mean that they’re ten percent better or half of their symptoms are gone. We wanna restore them to their full physical and emotional health. The GeneSight test gives us some specific information that allows a provider to personalize a medication plan for a patient. When I consider the big picture and incorporate the GeneSight test results, I’m able to take those twelve to fourteen medications and narrow down the options, that I think, fit best with the child. Sometimes I’ve heard the GeneSight test described as the right drug test. I use the phrase “not the wrong drug test”, because really what it does is it allows me to look at a group of medications that I think would be appropriate for a patient and go, here are the meds that I could consider, here’s the test results, and when I marry the two, I’m able to narrow it down to the medications that I think will be the most effective with the fewest side effects. Does it guarantee the medicine’s gonna work? No. And we tell our patients upfront, this doesn’t guarantee a drug is going to work for your child, but it does help us minimize the the chance that your child has a side effect, and it really allows us to, narrow down the list of medications that are really appropriate for your child. And so helping both the patient and their parent or caregiver feel comfortable, my child’s provider was thoughtful about the diagnosis, discussed all the options with me, and then didn’t just throw a dart at a handful of medications that might help, but really used all of the the data and all of the technology that they have access to personalize a treatment plan for my child. I struggle to find a client for which the GeneSight information would not be helpful. 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 Patient Which Mental Health Provider Should I Consider? A Symptom-Based Guide The support of a good healthcare provider can make all the difference when you’re struggling with your mental health. But how do you connect to one in a sea of ... Read more Patient One explanation for why we experience Side Effects? Understanding Your Genetic Response to Antidepressants Antidepressants often play an essential role in helping patients with their mental health conditions. But as many patients can attest, it’s frustrating when... Read more Patient Barriers at Every Turn: How Systemic and Social Factors Block Men from Mental Health Care Taking the important step of seeking care for mental health isn’t always an easy decision. Uncertainty about the need for care, social stigmas associated wi... Read more Healthcare Provider Overcoming Side Effect Concerns: Leveraging Pharmacogenomic Insights to Inform Depression and Anxiety Medication Selection Whitnee Brown, a lifelong resident now practicing in Birmingham, Alabama has nearly an entire alphabet following her name, abbreviations for degrees and certifi... Read more Patient Concerns about Mental Health Medication Side Effects Remain a Barrier to Getting Help for Those Diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety Lisa Roberts has raised a family, reached an impressively high level in her career, and was an anchor for her mother and other family members. When, within ... Read more Patient Common Antidepressant Side Effects Taking an antidepressant can be an effective way to help treat a mental health condition like depression or anxiety. However, these medications can also cre... Read more 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 Learn more Learn more about GeneSight How to talk to your provider View our clinical studies
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
Patient Which Mental Health Provider Should I Consider? A Symptom-Based Guide The support of a good healthcare provider can make all the difference when you’re struggling with your mental health. But how do you connect to one in a sea of ... Read more
Patient One explanation for why we experience Side Effects? Understanding Your Genetic Response to Antidepressants Antidepressants often play an essential role in helping patients with their mental health conditions. But as many patients can attest, it’s frustrating when... Read more
Patient Barriers at Every Turn: How Systemic and Social Factors Block Men from Mental Health Care Taking the important step of seeking care for mental health isn’t always an easy decision. Uncertainty about the need for care, social stigmas associated wi... Read more
Healthcare Provider Overcoming Side Effect Concerns: Leveraging Pharmacogenomic Insights to Inform Depression and Anxiety Medication Selection Whitnee Brown, a lifelong resident now practicing in Birmingham, Alabama has nearly an entire alphabet following her name, abbreviations for degrees and certifi... Read more
Patient Concerns about Mental Health Medication Side Effects Remain a Barrier to Getting Help for Those Diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety Lisa Roberts has raised a family, reached an impressively high level in her career, and was an anchor for her mother and other family members. When, within ... Read more
Patient Common Antidepressant Side Effects Taking an antidepressant can be an effective way to help treat a mental health condition like depression or anxiety. However, these medications can also cre... Read more
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