Method to Determine and Biomarker for Treatment Efficacy With Ssri, Snri, and Sari Antidepressants

摘要

The invention provides a method for determining whether a patient suffering from a condition that is susceptible to treatment with a compound that activates the brain serotonin system is resistant to treatment with the compound. The method comprises observing whether the genome of the patient contains at least one copy of the BDNF allele containing a genetic alteration, and correlating the presence of the allele containing the genetic alteration with patients who are resistant to treatment with the compound. In another embodiment, the method comprises observing whether the patient expresses a BDNF protein containing an amino acid alteration, and correlating the expression of the BDNF protein containing the amino acid alteration with patients who are resistant to treatment with the compound.