The therapygenetics of anxiety disorders

Abstract

Treatment of anxiety disorders primarily includes pharmacological treatment and psychotherapy, yet a substantial portion of patients do not experience sufficient clinical response. Given the significant impact of anxiety disorders on well-being and quality of life, it is pertinent to strive to ensure available treatments are of paramount efficacy. This review aimed to identify genetic variants and genes that may moderate the outcome of psychotherapy in patients with anxiety disorders, termed ‘therapygenetics.’ A comprehensive search of the current literature following relevant guidelines was conducted. Eighteen records were included in the review. Seven studies reported significant associations between genetic variants and response to psychotherapy. The most investigated polymorphisms were the serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR), nerve growth factor rs6330, catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val166Met. However, current findings are inconsistent and thus do not support the use of genetic variants for the prediction of psychotherapy response in anxiety disorders.