SOCIOECOLOGICAL AND SOCIOCULTURAL VARIABLES IN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH - METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Although a relatively small amount of work has been done, available ev idence suggests that a host of variables, some of which are environmen tal, influence drug kinetics and likely dynamics as well. Recent evide nce suggests that there are considerable differences in interethnic an d racial responsiveness (including side effects) to various psychotrop ic drugs, and that understanding of differences is important for clini cal and research studies as well as patient welfare. Some of the param eters of potential importance are presented, and strategies for contro lling these variables in research studies are discussed.