SYMPOSIA

Abstracts of the Invited Speakers
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most common form of genomic variations and the main genetic reason behind
individual phenotypic differences. Also SNP variations are suggested to be the underlying reason of many complex diseases, they are
considered as a good candidate for personalized medicine and pharmacogenomics applications. Genome-Wide Association Studies
(GWAS) of SNPs are among the promising approaches for the identification of disease causing variants. The high-dimension of the SNP
genotyping data presents a challenge for the understanding of the genotype and its possible implications for the etiology of the diseases
and also for the identification of the representative SNPs to design the follow up studies for the validation of the associations. One of
the bioinformatics tools developed to overcome this challenge is METU-SNP (http://metu.edu.tr/~yesim/metu-snp.htm), which aims to
fasten the identification of associations described through GWAS. Today through genomic research and meta-analysis of genotyping
experiments we are able to reveal SNP biomarkers associated with disease and drug reactions. Next, translational research has to be
conducted in order to develop genomic diagnostics to apply this information into practice in medical clinics. Design of diagnostic assays
for the diagnosis and prediction of drug response in psychiatric disorders can especially guide the initial selection of antipsychotics or
antidepressants based on the individual genomic information of the patients.
Development of personalized medicine approaches and utilizing genomic diagnostic assays like the examples will be presented in this
talk will eliminate or decrease the number of trial-and-errors in selection of right therapy and dosage for the right patient and will also
minimize emergency visits due to side effects of the drugs. Also prescription of right medicine and therapy plan at the initial diagnosis
will increase trust between the healthcare professionals and the patients, which in return expected to provide higher cooperation and
adherance rates of patients to their therapy. Application of pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine approaches in clinical decision
making is expected to decrease the cost of healthcare in psychiatry as in other disciplines, while offering higher quality healthcare..
Key words: Personalized medicine, biomarkers, molecular diagnostics, pharmacogenomics, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), METU-SNP,
rational drug use
Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology 2011;21(Suppl. 2):S101-2
[PS-24]
Symposium Title: Effects of psychotropics and other drugs on quality of life, employee security, flight and traffic safety
The effects of psychotropic and other drugs on flight and flight safety
Muzaffer Çetingüç
Aviation and Space Medicine Center, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
E-mail: mcetinguc@hotmail.com
There are data that the side effects of many prescription drugs impair the psychomotor and cognitive performance of patients; with
psychotropic drugs having even more of these negative side effects. Particularly drugs like benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, barbiturates,
trycyclic antidepressants, stimulants, narcotic analgesics, and antihistamines that affect the central nervous system top the list for risks of
accidents, injuries, and cognitive impairments. Along with these, anticoagulants, chemotherapeutic agents, antidiarrheals, antiemetics,
and steroids should not be allowed for pilots. It is debatable that SSRIs have a mild side effect profile. SSRIs and bupropion are given
to military pilots up to 6 months after resolution of anxiety and depressive symptoms in Canada and Australia. But the civil aviation
authorities did not grant any privileges to these drugs.
The gold standard in aviation for a pilot to fly efficiently and safely is to be in good mental and physical health and not to be affected by
any medication during flights. The regulations both international and national have clear rules that permanently or temporarily restrain
pilots from flying activities in the case of any sickness or medication treatment. The rules stating that a sick person cannot function as
a pilot in a plane or an air traffic controller in a tower are rational. However since the notion of being sick and the tasks during a flight
spread over a wide range, local health authorities can issue “waivers” for special situations. For example pilots with conditions like type-2
diabetes, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, or melanoma cannot fly; but in certain forms of these conditions that are stabilized
with treatment, that have not caused serious limitations, and that do not affect performance, the pilot may be allowed to fly. Atopic
dermatitis that recover with application of pomades, allergic rhinitis that is treated with nasal sprays, asthma that is treated with steroid
inhalers, type-2 diabetes that is controlled with metformin are examples of allowed conditions. The drugs that are assumed not to have
any side effects that might affect flight safety are: Aspirin, paracetamol, most antibiotics, depot penicillins, gout and thyroid medication,
antiacids, nasal decongestants, oral contraceptives, topical analgesics and steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins,
metformin, modafinil, caffeine, etc. Clearly, the patients need to be monitored for the first few days of use considering these drugs may
have idiosyncrasies.
S102 Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Vol: 21, Supplement: 2, 2011 - www.psikofarmakoloji.org