[Multidisciplinary approach to genetic testing for hereditary neuromuscular diseases]

The benefit of genetic testing for hereditary neuromuscular diseases is accurate and rapid diagnosis. On the other hand, it raises several ethical, legal, and psychosocial issues because the test results may greatly influence the life plan or life style of the applicant. In particular, in case of predictive or prenatal genetic testing, or carrier detection for family relatives, careful genetic counseling and psychosocial support are needed for applicants. When requests for predictive or prenatal genetic testing, or carrier detection for healthy relatives are received, a multidisciplinary approach should be taken. A team that consists of a geneticist, neurologist, psychiatrist, psychologist, genetic nurse, and social worker should carefully conduct genetic counseling sessions. It is quite important to build effective communication and coordination of activities among the applicant, the applicant's family and members of the counseling team during pre-test counseling sessions. This will help applicants feel satisfied with their own decision as to whether they will receive genetic testing or not. Furthermore, it will help applicants cope with an unfavorable test result.