(BPT) - In today's world, personalization is the norm. From curated music playlists and tailored shopping recommendations to customized social media feeds, the culture is now shaped around individual preferences. One surprising area that often feels left behind though is mental health treatment.
According to the latest GeneSight® Mental Health Monitor national survey from Myriad Genetics®, even in today's highly customizable environment, many Americans feel that mental health treatment isn't designed with them in mind.
The survey found that 41% of those diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety, and who are currently taking a mental health medication, think it feels "one-size-fits-all," and 74% of those who are still finding a medication that works for them say that mental health treatment feels "one-size-fits-all." Of those diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety, just over two-thirds (67%) say their mental health is a daily struggle, and more than half (52%) feel the healthcare system treats them like part of an "assembly line" more than an individual.
"People today expect to experience personalization everywhere they go, but many of my patients feel like their mental health treatment is a lengthy, uncertain trial-and-error process," said Dr. Crystal Nelson, board-certified psychiatrist and CEO of Blueprint Psychiatry in Atlanta. "It's crucial to find ways to tailor mental health medication treatment to each individual so they can feel better, sooner."
How lack of personalization impacts treatment
Many patients feel their mental healthcare isn't tailored to them, which may shape their confidence in their treatment plan. In fact, a majority (roughly 70%) of those diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety think various aspects of their mental healthcare are "only somewhat," "not very" or "not at all" personalized to them, and most of the same group (88%) say they would be more confident in their mental healthcare plan if it were personalized to them.
This lack of confidence is especially important when it comes to mental health medication. Among those diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety and currently taking a prescribed mental health medication, nearly two-thirds (65%) are not confident their medication was selected specifically for them. At the same time, patients are signaling that personalization could make a meaningful difference: Nearly three-quarters (74%) indicated that personalization would make them more likely to stay committed to a prescribed mental health medication.
This is important, as mental health medication treatment can involve a degree of trial and error. According to the national survey, only 13% of those diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression who have taken mental health medication previously said the first medication they tried worked for them, meaning many spend time trying multiple medications before finding one that works. However, 78% of the same group said they felt more like themselves after finding a medication that worked for them, highlighting the value of a more personalized approach to mental health medication treatment.
A tool to help personalize treatment: genetic testing
For clinicians, genetic testing can be a useful tool to help them offer more personalized mental health treatment. For example, the GeneSight Test from Myriad Genetics is a simple cheek swab that analyzes how a patient's genes may affect medication outcomes. The GeneSight Test looks at clinically important genetic variations in each patient's DNA, providing results that may inform clinicians about how a patient may break down or respond to over 60 FDA-approved medications commonly prescribed for depression, anxiety, ADHD and other psychiatric conditions.
These insights supplement other key information, like your medical history, to help your clinician create a comprehensive medical assessment and treatment plan. With this additional information, clinicians can better understand if you may need dose adjustments, if certain medications may be less likely to work for them, or if they may have an increased risk of side effects based on your genetics. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of survey respondents were unaware that genetic testing may help inform mental health medication decisions, but after learning about this option, more than half (55%) say they would have preferred their clinician to offer it as part of their care.
"The GeneSight Test is a valuable tool in my practice," said Nelson. "Many of my patients are surprised to learn that genetic testing may help inform mental health medication decisions and often wish they had known about it sooner. The test provides additional insights about each person as an individual, helping me make more informed decisions about prescribing mental health medications and better tailoring each patient's treatment plan."
Learn more about how genetic testing can help personalize mental health treatment at GeneSight.com.
*The GeneSight® Mental Health Monitor is a nationwide survey conducted online by ACUPOLL Precision Research, Inc. between February 23-March 6, 2026, among a representative sample (n=1002) of U.S. adults age 18+. The margin of error in survey results for the total base population at a 95% confidence interval is +/- 4%. A nationally representative sample of adults aged 18 years or older was recruited and balanced to match U.S. Census quotas across five primary metrics (i.e., age, gender, income, education and ethnicity). In addition to the nationally representative sample, a statistically reliable sample was achieved of respondents who were self-reported as being diagnosed by a medical professional with depression or anxiety. ACUPOLL has more than 30 years of experience conducting statistically valid research through careful recruiting and quality control measures.
