[Symposium 49] Cultural Psychopharmacology: Integrating Genetics, Ethnicity, and Global Perspectives

[SY-49] Cultural Psychopharmacology: Integrating Genetics, Ethnicity, and Global Perspectives

Itsuo Asai¹, Mario Braakman², Ahmad Hatim bin Hatim³, Edmund Pi⁴ (1.Heart Clinic Medical Corporation(Japan), 2.Tilburg University(Netherlands), 3.University of Malaya(Malaysia), 4.University of Southern California(United States of America))

Keywords:

Pharmacogenetics,Psychotropic Drugs,Ethnic Groups,Tardive Dyskinesia,Cross-Cultural Comparison

Cultural psychopharmacology, an emerging discipline at the intersection of psychiatry, pharmacogenomics, and anthropology, seeks to understand how genetic and cultural variables shape patients’ responses to psychotropic medications. This symposium offers an integrative perspective on the evolution, current challenges, and future directions of this field through four presentations by leading experts.Prof. Mario Braakman (Tilburg University, the Netherlands) will open with a historical overview of the past five decades of cultural psychopharmacology, outlining key milestones in understanding how ethnicity and culture interact with psychiatric treatment. His presentation sets the stage for the subsequent empirical contributions.Dr. Itsuo Asai (Heart Clinic Medical Corporation, Japan) will present comparative findings on CYP2D6 polymorphisms and culturally shaped prescribing norms in the U.S., China, and Japan. His talk highlights how both genetic metabolism and cultural attitudes toward antipsychotic use influence dosing practices and treatment outcomes.Prof. Ahmad Hatim Sulaiman (Universiti Malaya, Malaysia) will report on his original research examining the prevalence and clinical impact of tardive dyskinesia (TD) among schizophrenia patients in Malaysia. His findings reveal that Chinese ethnicity and longer treatment duration are significantly associated with increased TD risk, underscoring the need for ethnically sensitive pharmacovigilance.Finally, Prof. Edmond H. Pi (University of Southern California, USA) will offer a wide-ranging review of psychopharmacological practices across Asian populations. He will discuss ethnic variability in drug response, the integration of cultural explanatory models, and best practices for translating these insights into personalized treatment strategies.Together, these presentations illuminate the vital importance of integrating cultural, genetic, and clinical insights in psychopharmacology to promote safer, more effective, and culturally attuned psychiatric care worldwide.