Grant: Doctoral: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Millions of Canadians struggle with mental health issues each year, with mood and anxiety disorders being the most common. In Manitoba, the number of people taking antidepressants has recently increased due to the high rate of these conditions. However, many people find that their antidepressants either do not work well or cause unwanted side effects. This can be due to how these medications are prescribed and individual differences in how people process drugs. A pharmacogenomics-based approach, which uses individual genetic variation to reflect a person's ability to metabolize a drug, can improve the efficacy and tolerability of these medications and reduce the associated morbidity, mortality, and costs. There are approximately 25 antidepressant medications prescribed in Manitoba at present, but only 13 of these have pharmacogenomics-based prescribing recommendations. The extent to which these antidepressants are used is not well documented, and no study has yet determined the pattern of antidepressant use for these disorders in Manitoba. My study aims to fill this gap by analyzing prescription data from the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy to see how these antidepressants are used over time. I will examine how often people continue their medication and identify patterns related to different demographic groups. By providing this practice-based information, I hope to guide better prescribing practices and gain a better understanding of the potential impacts of implementing pharmacogenomic testing. Clinicians and policymakers will benefit from new insights into the factors influencing antidepressant use. This study will help improve adherence to antidepressant therapy by reducing treatment gaps and enhancing the overall quality of life for Canadians dealing with mental health disorders.