Dr. Kotler may recommend genetic testing for some of her patients, when appropriate. While genetic testing cannot replace Dr. Kotler’s clinical evaluation and judgement, it may provide insight into an individual’s specific genetic makeup. These tests analyze a handful of specific genes that may place a person at an increased risk for certain mental health disorders. Knowledge of a patient’s unique pharmacogenetics can provide a deeper understanding into their diagnosis and can help guide medication and treatment choices and responses to medications.

In addition to counseling and behavioral treatment, the treatment of psychiatric disorders commonly involves the use of psychotropic medications that are aimed at alleviating symptoms of a particular disorder. Too commonly, the treatment of mental health disorders is characterized by relatively high rates of inadequate response. Genetic testing can potentially reduce the number of medication trials, failures, and adverse reactions to achieve an optimal and timely response.