I tell my patients to ask for the GeneSight test

I’m a mom, a wife, a sister, a practicing Ob/Gyn, a teacher and a researcher in hereditary cancers. And I’m a survivor of a traumatic experience. My brother was murdered in a horrific incident of domestic violence. The shock of this act caused the depression I had kept under control for decades to come roaring back, in tandem with my grief. Some mornings, I didn’t even want to get out of bed.

Getting help

As a clinician, I knew I needed help and quick. I was able to find a psychiatrist that worked at the same university and got an appointment. I had taken antidepressants in the past, so I was comfortable with taking what my psychiatrist recommended. Yet the medication prescribed did not adequately help my depression. I tried a second medication with no more success. The third medication my psychiatrist prescribed had side effects and the depression was getting worse.

Before switching to a new medication, my psychiatrist suggested the GeneSight test, and I readily agreed. The results confirmed that I was unable to metabolize some of the medications normally, validating my experience about side effects and efficacy of the medications I had tried. My psychiatrist selected a medication from the “use as directed” category, which I have taken for over a year now, and my doctor recommended a methyl folate supplement. These medications have helped my depression start to improve and I had more energy and motivation to work with my therapist and take other steps to improve the depression like exercising and spending time with friends.

Why I’m sharing my story

I am telling my story for a few reasons. I want to shine a light on domestic violence. My brother was killed by his girlfriend’s former partner. It was so senseless. Yet I don’t want it to be meaningless. In my deep depression, I was incapable of even thinking about taking some kind of action. Now I am better and ready to do what I can to bring domestic violence out of the shadows.

And I want to increase awareness about physician mental health. There are so many of us struggling with burnout and worse. I want to encourage my fellow physicians to get treatment for their mental health. You do not have to wait for a psychiatrist appointment like I did. PCPs and NPs can order the GeneSight test–so talk to your own doctor about GeneSight.

If I had to go through this again—which I would not wish upon anyone—I would start right away with a GeneSight test. I hear from my patients about the trial and error they have experienced with medications used to treat depression and anxiety and I can sympathize with them because I have walked in their shoes. I tell my patients to ask for the GeneSight test.