Genetic Testing for Psychiatry Long Island: Find the Right Medication Faster

Traditionally, psychiatrists prescribe antidepressants based on educated guesses. We consider your symptoms, side effect profiles, what’s worked for family members, and our clinical experience. Then we wait 3-4 weeks to see if the medication helps. If it doesn’t, we try another. And another. For some patients, this process stretches on for months or even years.

There’s a better way. Pharmacogenomic testing examines how your unique genetic makeup interacts with psychiatric medications, helping us choose the right medication the first time. At Anxiety & Depression Psychiatry, we offer genetic testing for psychiatry on Long Island to give our patients a significant advantage in their treatment.

A simple, painless cheek swab analyzes your DNA and provides information about approximately 130 mental health medications. The test can be done in our office or mailed directly to your home. Results typically come back within a week and tell us three crucial things:

Some psychiatrists only order genetic testing after a patient has failed multiple medications. We believe testing makes more sense at the beginning of treatment, before you’ve spent months on medications unlikely to help.

Consider what’s at stake. Depression is about 40% genetic and 60% environmental. When you’re suffering and a new medication takes 3-4 weeks to show effects, every failed trial costs you precious time. Side effects from poorly matched medications can be discouraging and sometimes dangerous. And with each unsuccessful attempt, hope diminishes.

Genetic testing increases the likelihood of starting the right medication the first time. That’s not a small thing when you’re struggling with depression or anxiety.

Pharmacogenomic testing is a powerful tool, but it’s not a crystal ball. It can’t guarantee a medication will work, only that your genetics don’t create obvious barriers. It doesn’t replace clinical judgment or the therapeutic relationship. And it’s one piece of a comprehensive evaluation, not a substitute for thorough assessment.

Some critics argue the technology is still too new. We respectfully disagree. Medicare, Medicaid, and United Healthcare now cover pharmacogenomic testing, a strong signal that the evidence supports its clinical value. Other insurers are following.

For years, psychiatrists dismissed patients who reported being “sensitive to medications” as anxious or difficult. Genetic testing has changed that. If you’ve experienced side effects from multiple medications, there’s likely a biological explanation. You may be a slow metabolizer who accumulates drugs at standard doses. That’s not anxiety. That’s genetics.

Understanding your metabolizer status validates your experience and guides us toward medications and doses your body can actually handle.

If you’re beginning psychiatric treatment or frustrated by medications that haven’t worked, genetic testing can provide valuable guidance. Call us at (646) 830-0131 to schedule a consultation and learn whether pharmacogenomic testing is right for you.

I feel that, although it is new, psychopharmacogenomic testing is a game changer for psychiatry. — Dr. Tomer Levin