The British Journal of Psychiatry (2009) 194: 404-410. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.047514
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Issues concerning feedback about genetic testing and risk of depression

Kay Wilhelm, MD, FRANZCP

School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, and Black Dog Institute, Sydney

Bettina Meiser, PhD

Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales

Philip B. Mitchell, MD, FRANZCP, FRCPsych, Adam W. Finch, BSc, MPsychol, Jennifer E. Siegel, BSc and Gordon Parker, MD, DSc, PhD, FRANZCP

School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, and Black Dog Institute, Sydney

Peter R. Schofield, BSc Agr, PhD, DSc

Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, and University of New South Wales, Australia

Correspondence: Professor Kay Wilhelm, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Level 4, DeLacy Building, St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW 2032, Australia. Email: kwilhelm{at}stvincents.com.au

Declaration of interest

None.

Funding

B.M. is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Career Development Award (ID 350989) and P.S. by an NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellowship (ID 157209). This work is supported by NHMRC grants 222708, 230802 and by an infrastructure grant from the Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Office, New South Wales Department of Health.

Background

Recent studies show that adverse life events have a significantly greater impact on depression onset for those with the s/s allele of the genotype for the 5-HT gene-linked promoter region. Research in genes related to risk of depression leads to the question of how this information is received by individuals.

Aims

To investigate factors related to the response to receiving one’s own serotonin transporter genotype results.

Method

Predictors of the impact of receiving individual genotype data were assessed in 128 participants in a study of gene–environment interaction in depression onset.

Results

Two-thirds decided to learn their individual genotype results (receivers) and prior to disclosure this decision was associated with a perception of greater benefit from receipt of the information (P=0.001). Receivers completing the 2-week (n=76) and 3-month follow-up (n=78) generally reported feeling pleased with the information and having had a more positive experience than distress. However, distress was related to genotype, with those with the s/s allele being most affected.

Conclusions

There was high interest in, and satisfaction with, learning about one’s serotonin transporter genotype. Participants appeared to understand that the gene conferred susceptibility to depression rather than a direct causal effect.


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