Psychologists in Cardiogenetics: A Viewpoint Advocating for a Structured Role in Patient Care

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Genetics
• Psychology

Background:

• Inherited cardiac conditions (ICC) necessitate lifelong management and present significant psychological challenges for patients.
• Psychological care is inconsistently integrated into cardiogenetics compared to other genetics fields like oncogenetics, reproductive genetics, and neurogenetics.
• Cardiogenetics traditionally prioritizes medical management over psychosocial needs, leaving patients vulnerable to distress and uncertainty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the structured integration of psychologists into cardiogenetic care teams.
• To highlight the disparities in psychological support across different genetics disciplines.
• To emphasize the need for enhanced patient-centered communication and decision-making in cardiogenetics.

Main Methods:

• This viewpoint draws on international experiences and observed disparities in psychological care across different centers and countries.
• It analyzes the current state of psychological support within cardiogenetics.
• It compares the integration of psychologists in cardiogenetics with other specialized genetics fields.

Main Results:

• Patients with ICCs experience significant distress, grief, and uncertainty, particularly upon discovering genetic risks.
• Carriers of pathogenic variants struggle with guilt, fear of transmission, and family communication, impacting medical adherence.
• Disparities exist in the provision of psychological support across different countries and clinical settings.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need to integrate psychologists into cardiogenetic care teams.
• Structured psychological support is essential for improving patient-centered communication, informed decision-making, and long-term psychosocial well-being.
• Addressing psychological needs is crucial for effective lifelong management of inherited cardiac conditions.