Ethnicity and psychopharmacology. Bridging the gap.

Taken together, the literature reviewed clearly indicates that the disposition and effect of a large number of psychotropic agents are influenced substantially by ethnicity and culture. Recent advances in the realm of pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenetics, and pharmacodynamics have led to a greater understanding of some of the mechanisms responsible for such differences. In comparison, much less currently is known regarding how various psychosocial factors impinge on drug responses in different cultural settings. Progress in research in this area is important for clinical reasons, as psychiatric clinicians will increasingly be confronted with patients with divergent ethnic and cultural backgrounds. In addition, knowledge derived from such research will contribute significantly to a better understanding of how the effects of psychotropic agents are mediated, and also should be valuable for the drug development industry that will have to take into account the increasingly diversifying domestic and international markets.