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Psychosocial aspects of genetic testing
Linda D Cameron1, Cecile Muller
1Department of Psychology (Tamaki Campus), The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. L.cameron@auckland.ac.nz
Current Opinion in Psychiatry
|June 26, 2009
Summary
Genetic testing for disease risk presents challenges for behavioral medicine. Understanding individual perceptions and impacts is crucial for optimizing health communication and behavior change.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Medicine
- Genetics
- Psychosocial Health
Background:
- Rapid advancements in genetic testing for disease susceptibility create new challenges for behavioral medicine.
- Understanding individual interpretation of genetic risk information and its psychosocial impacts is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent research on the psychosocial aspects of genetic testing for disease risk.
- To identify patterns of use, interpretation of results, and impacts of genetic testing.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research on psychosocial aspects of genetic testing.
- Analysis of studies examining individual perceptions, motivations, and impacts of genetic testing.
Main Results:
- Individuals show limited sensitivity to genetic risk information; mental representations of risk influence perceptions and behaviors.
- Motivations for genetic testing are complex; decision aids are being developed.
- Psychosocial impacts vary, with some evidence of positive effects and others of negative consequences; genetic information can motivate health behavior change and influence family dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to optimize health communication and counseling for informed use and behavior change.
- Personalized genomics necessitates a shift towards a family-based healthcare model due to the implications of genetic information.
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