Newspatrolling.com News cum Content Syndication Portal Online
New Delhi, July 06, 2026: Mental health disorders continue to pose a significant public health challenge worldwide, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that around 280 million people live with depression globally. While effective medications are available, identifying the right treatment often remains a lengthy trial-and-error process, as individuals can respond differently to the same psychiatric medicines.
In India, the burden is equally concerning. According to experts at a recent Government of India post-budget webinar, one in seven Indians is affected by mental health disorders, while several states continue to face treatment gaps ranging from 70% to 90%. This highlights the need for more personalised approaches to mental healthcare that can help patients receive the right treatment earlier and improve clinical outcomes.
Globally, researchers are increasingly exploring pharmacogenomics and precision medicine to personalise mental healthcare. By understanding how an individual’s genetic makeup influences their response to medications, scientists aim to develop more targeted prescribing approaches that improve treatment effectiveness, minimize adverse drug reactions, and reduce reliance on the current trial-and-error approach to prescribing.
Against this backdrop, researchers at the University of Otago, New Zealand, are investigating how pharmacogenetics can improve the prescribing of medicines used to treat mental health conditions. Their research focuses on understanding how inherited genetic variations affect an individual’s response to antidepressants and other psychiatric medications, with the long-term goal of supporting more precise, evidence-based treatment decisions.
The research also reflects the growing contribution of Indian-origin scientists to global healthcare innovation. Dr. Simran Maggo, a Research Fellow at the University of Otago, is among the researchers advancing this work through his studies on pharmacogenetics and adverse drug reactions.
For countries like India, where mental health disorders continue to place a growing burden on individuals and healthcare systems, advances in pharmacogenetic research could hold significant promise. While further research and clinical validation are needed, developments in genetic-guided prescribing may contribute to more personalized treatment, improved patient outcomes, and more efficient mental healthcare pathways in the years ahead.
