Psychiatry, psychopharmacology and P-450s

The cytochrome P-450 enzyme family is one of the major drug metabolizing systems in man. Over the last decade, advances in molecular biology, in vitro and clinical pharmacology techniques have increased our understanding of their role in the metabolism of psychotropic drugs, the effects of psychotropics on enzyme inhibition and induction, and how the pharmacokinetics of psychotropics are affected by changes in enzyme activity. There is also greater awareness of the influence of factors such as age, gender, race and environment on enzyme activity. This information can be of considerable assistance to psychiatrists, to help with rational prescribing, or to prevent or minimize the potential for drug interactions.