CHALFONT, PA – May 14, 2013 – Genomind, a personalized medicine company, has released a statement in response to the National Institute of Mental Health’s (NIMH) announcement by Director Dr. Thomas Insel that the organization will be re-orienting its research away from DSM categories, supporting the move and its potential to influence improved treatment of patients with mental disorders.
DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is a psychiatric diagnostics system based upon patient-reported symptoms that are used to define succinct syndromes and make medication choices. While the system has been in place for decades, it has not taken into consideration patient etiology or pathophysiology.
The remedy proposed by NIMH is the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Project, which would alter procedures to include genetics, imaging, cognitive science, and other specific endophenotypes which reflect specific changes in the brain associated with psychiatric conditions, creating a fuller understanding of both a patient’s disorder and how to best address treatment.
Genomind believes that the use of biomarkers in psychiatry can only help improve patient care. Better knowledge of a patient’s genetics can lead to better medication choices by reducing adverse drug side effects, which are based upon genetic impairments in drug metabolism. Continued research and focus on biomarkers may also help the industry understand underlying pathophysiological changes in the brain that lead to psychiatric disorders.
“The core of Genomind’s philosophy is that psychiatric disorders are dimensional, not categorical, and NIMH’s position directly supports this,” says Dr. Jay Lombard, Genomind’s Chief Scientific Officer and Medical Director. “We hope this move by the NIMH and the resulting RDoC Project will not only allow patients to receive more personalized, tailored care, but help the mental health community gain greater insight into how we can improve treatment even further in the future.”
Genomind is committed to discovery of the underlying causes of neuropsychiatric disorders and supports the development of personalized medicine that improves patients’ lives. The company’s core product is the Genecept Assay, a comprehensive, simple-to-use tool for understanding genetic and biological markers that best inform response to different psychiatric treatments including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, autism and ADHD.
About Genomind
Genomind is a personalized medicine company, comprised of innovative researchers and expert leaders in psychiatry and neurology. Genomind is committed to discovery of the underlying causes of neuropsychiatric disorders and supports the development of personalized medicine that improves patients’ lives. Genomind was founded by Ronald I. Dozoretz, MD, a psychiatrist who has devoted his career to improving mental health. Jay Lombard, DO, a neurologist and co-founder of Genomind, is a critically acclaimed author and nationally recognized thought leader in neuropsychiatry practice and research.
