Medical and psychology students' disbelief in the inheritance of risk factors for suicide.
Despite convergent evidence for a role of genetic risk factors for suicide stemming from quantitative genetic (family, twin, and adoption designs), molecular genetic, and geographical studies, professionals, likely to be exposed to suicide, appear to disbelieve strongly in the inheritance of risk factors for suicide. In a sample of 1,093 Austrian medical and psychology students, about 80% of respondents did not endorse genetic risk factors for suicide, regardless of their sex, age bracket, field and year of study, and overall knowledge on suicide facts. This may reflect educational gaps, cognitive biases against genetic bases and explanations, or both. One single implication is that this information needs to be incorporated and covered more visibly in medical and psychology textbooks and curricula.
Voracek
Martin
M
Department of Basic Psychological Research, School of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, Rm 03-42, A-1010 Vienna, Austria. martin.voracek@univie.ac.at
Sonneck
Gernot
G
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001317:Austria; D001364:Awareness; D003469:Culture; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011584:Psychology / Q000193:education*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*