Psychiatric genetic counseling for patients with schizophrenia and their families

Abstract

Steady progress in the field of psychiatric genetics, generating new and fascinating insight into the genetic and phenotypic complexity of schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses, have created an increased need of psychiatric genetic counseling. It is a crucial aspect of psychiatric clinical practice to ensure a balanced approach that takes into consideration genetic and environmental risk factors and ongoing education in this rapidly developing field is essential. Genetic counseling will be increasingly important to assist patients with schizophrenia and their families to make a meaningful informed decision about genetic testing. It will preempt unrealistic expectations, discrimination and stigma related to incomplete understanding of genetic test results in the psychiatric context.

Ethical principles, challenges and opportunities when conducting genetic counselling for schizophrenia

“…Such norms can be a basis for guidelines for the setting of minimal information and concepts that need to be covered in patient information and participant information leaflets in the context of genetic counselling or genetic research. Inclusivity of genomic studies would address the exclusion of under-resourced communities and ensure a more distributive, equitable and socially just representation of populations in the ongoing mapping of genetic vulnerability to illnesses ( 38 ). To expand on these opportunities, commitment is required from different key stakeholders like the scientific community, academic institutions, government funding initiatives and medical insurance companies, to fund resources and support capacity-building initiatives.…”