Clinician experiences of employing the AmpliChip® CYP450 test in routine psychiatric practice

These findings are from a qualitative study examining clinician experiences of employing the AmpliChip® CYP450 test in psychiatric practice. One hundred tests were made available to secondary care mental health service clinicians commencing patient treatment with risperidone across three District Health Boards within New Zealand. Feedback was sought on clinicians’ (n = 33) experiences of ordering the test and receiving results, utilization of results, and perceived advantages and disadvantages. Difficulties were reported regarding ordering the test and receiving the results; however, real or perceived advantages of employing the test results in practice were widely reported. Analysis of the ways in which the test results were reportedly utilized revealed that they generally played a supporting role with regard to dosing decisions, rather than being the main influence on clinician behaviour. The test itself, and subsequent results, was viewed as potentially useful in facilitating the development of the doctor–patient relationship. Reported disadvantages of the test included potential over-reliance at the expense of clinical wisdom, cost, and challenges inherent in introducing a new clinical procedure into routine practice. These findings indicate that psychiatric clinicians are receptive to employing this test as a clinical support tool if its implementation is carefully considered and economically justifiable.