Attitudes of medical genetics practitioners and psychiatrists toward communicating with patients about genetic risk for psychiatric disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the self-rated competencies and perceived roles of medical geneticists, genetic counselors, and psychiatrists in the communication of genetic risk for psychiatric disorders to patients and families at an increased risk for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder, and their perspectives on training needs in this field.


METHODS
Clinically active members of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA) and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) were invited to complete the online survey. A total of 157 responses were included in data analysis: 17 medical geneticists, 36 genetics counselors, and 104 psychiatrists.


RESULTS
In all, 34.4% of the respondents disagreed that their professional training had prepared them to discuss genetic information about psychiatric illnesses with patients. Medical geneticists perceived significantly higher levels of self-rated competency to discuss with patients and families genetic information on psychiatric disorders compared with genetic counselors and psychiatrists (t=-0.61, P=0.001; β=0.33, 95% confidence interval 0.16-0.49, P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest deficiencies in education and training programs on how to best communicate psychiatric genetic risk information to patients, suggesting that specialist programs are needed to better support health professionals. As self-rated competencies differed among the professional groups, training programs need to be tailored to participants' professional backgrounds.
aSchool of Medicine bSchool of Psychiatry cPrince of Wales Clinical School dSchool of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales eBlack Dog Institute fBrain Sciences UNSW, Sydney gCentre for Genetics Education, Royal North Shore Hospital hSydney Medical School, University of Sydney iNeuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Yi Zhou
YZ
Zhou
Alex
A
Wilde
Bettina
B
Meiser
Philip B
PB
Mitchell
Kristine
K
Barlow-Stewart
Peter R
PR
Schofield
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D003469:Culture; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005826:Genetics, Medical; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011570:Psychiatry; D012307:Risk Factors