Harmony United Psychiatric Care is now utilizing Genomind to offer pharmacogenetic testing as a part of our mental health care. Genomind pharmacogenetic testing can assist our mental health providers in treating patients with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, ADHD, PTSD, substance abuse, schizophrenia, and more. Why is this important?

Not everyone reacts to medications in the same way. Many people experience feelings of frustration if they don’t receive relief from first-line treatments for their depression or other mental health condition. In fact, more than two-thirds of patients with major depressive disorder don’t receive complete relief from their first psychiatric medication, which may be in part due to their genetic makeup. Genomind testing from a quick saliva sample can pinpoint the exact medications your body may respond to best while also flagging those that may cause you increased side effects.

At Harmony United, our providers may use Genomind testing to determine if a patient could be more responsive to certain antidepressants, anti-anxiety, opioids, or antipsychotic medications. Testing will also indicate if an individual may have a higher risk for medication side effects, such as weight gain or skin reactions. Some genetic variants also involve the racial background of a person. For example, Caucasians with a certain serotonin transporter gene may get better results with non-SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants, while individuals of Asian ancestry with a certain genetic protein may do better with SSRIs.

The Genomind Professional PGX Express test evaluates 24 mental health-related genes, covers 10 mental health conditions, and assesses more than 130 mental health medications. Test results can help inform the treatment of:

Clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of Genomind pharmacogenetic testing. For example, in a study tracking 685 patients with a mood or anxiety disorder, 87 percent of patients showed clinically measurable improvement three months after their treatment was adjusted based on their pharmacogenetic test results. Of this number, 62 percent showed clinically significant improvement. (Study abstract).

Insurance Coverage of Pharmacogenetic Testing
The cost for Genomind pharmacogenetic testing is covered 100 percent by Medicare. Coverage by commercial or employer insurance varies. Costs, however, are fully reimbursable through Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). If you’d like to be tested, Genomind will contact your insurance company and let you know what your out-of-pocket cost will be.

Next Steps
If you’re interested in being treated for a mental health condition and would also like to utilize the benefits of Genomind, the first step is to schedule an appointment. Once you meet with your Harmony United provider, he or she will work with you to have the test done and incorporate the results into your treatment plan.

Genomind Mental Health Map
In addition to their Professional PGX Express test, Genomind also offers a test called the Mental Health Map that provides a full overview of an individual’s genetic mental health predispositions. This test, also done from a saliva sample, analyzes up to 38 genetic variants that impact mental health and wellness. This test is done independently of a provider’s treatment plan for a patient. However, understanding your mental health predispositions can bring you valuable insights and acceptance of yourself, whether or not you are working with a provider.

Test results include 7 in-depth interactive reports that identify an individual’s predispositions across the areas of:

The Mental Health Map comes with a 30-minute expert consult, actional insights and recommendations, and access to NeuroFlow — a digital health tool to monitor, measure and manage one’s mental wellness. The Genomind Mental Health Map can be ordered here. The cost may be reimbursable through certain FSAs or HSAs. Check with your FSA or HSA plan if you have one.