Incorporating evidence from pharmacologic and pharmacogenetic studies of atypical antipsychotic drugs into advanced psychiatric nursing practice.

Purpose: To present a conceptual framework for incorporating pharmacologic findings and pharmacogenetic evidence related to atypical antipsychotic drugs (AADs) into advanced psychiatric nursing practice.

Conclusions: Three evidence domains lend important information about differential AAD response. These include the pharmacology of AADs, the molecular genetics of metabolizing enzymes, and the molecular genetics of neurotransmitter receptor drug targets.

Practice Implications: These evidence domains can be incorporated into nursing practice decisions related to medication planning, patient and family education, and medication monitoring processes. The central focus of the framework is patient outcomes, which include medication adherence, tolerability of the AADs, and demonstrated clinical effectiveness.