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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Personalized medicine — improving the fit between patient and treatment — has become a major focus of research in fields from cancer treatment to the psychopharmacology of mental disorders. Genetic studies have suggested that an individual’s genetic makeup renders him either more or less sensitive to stressful social environments — but can an individual’s unique genotype also determine the effectiveness of preventative or therapeutic behavioral interventions?
The current issue of Perspectives on Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, combines nine stimulating articles in the first systematic effort to survey the possibilities of genetics research, personalized medicine, and behavioral intervention.
“Personalized medicine is being seen by many as the future of clinical treatment,” says Alan G. Kraut, Executive Director of the Association for Psychological Science. “The articles in this special issue of Perspectives on Psychological Science identify several important areas of focus that must be considered by researchers, patients, and clinicians as the field advances.”
Initiated by the Division of Behavioral and Social Research of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), this special issue of Perspectives on Psychological Science addresses the current opinion about the importance of genetically informed research designs in determining the precise targets, timing, and mechanisms of behavioral interventions.
“The intersection of behavior and genetics provides exciting research possibilities,” said Richard Suzman, Ph.D., director of NIA’s Division of Behavioral and Social Research. “If we can determine the extent to which we can tailor behavioral treatments to the unique genetic characteristics of an individual, then we will be on our way to the era of personalized medicine for a variety of conditions.”
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