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People who have experienced mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder often have a poor understanding of the causes of their illness, and that they are often very worried about how the illness affects their families. In particular, affected individuals worry that there is a high chance that any children that they have will become affected with the same illness. Often, because of this fear, affected individuals choose not to have children.
Genetic counseling is a process where information about the causes of illnesses, and about chances for family members of individuals with these illnesses to become similarly affected is provided in a supportive environment by a specially trained healthcare professional. This study will investigate whether genetic counseling can reduce perceptions of risk and stigma, and increase perceived control and knowledge about the causes of the illness, amongst individuals who have a major mental illness.
We will recruit 120 individuals who have a personal history of a major psychiatric disorder (as defined above). Each participant will be randomized into one of 3 groups of approximately equal size: one of which will receive genetic counseling within 1 month after enrollment (GC), another will receive the educational brochure within 1 month (EB), and the last will be assigned to waitlist (WT). After randomization (but prior to intervention for GC and EB groups, and within 1 month after enrollment for the WT group) we will gather baseline information regarding the 4 outcome measures (perceived risk and control, stigma, and knowledge). We will re-assess the 4 outcome measures immediately post-intervention for GC and EB groups. A further follow-up (for all groups) will be conducted two months after enrollment (which is 1 month post intervention for GC and EB groups).
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| GC | Experimental | Genetic counseling (GC): One face-to-face genetic counseling session of 1-2hours duration, with a board certified or board eligible genetic counselor which will involve, documentation of a detailed family history, discussion of: the contributors to mental illness pathogenesis, illness risk reduction strategies, chances for family members to develop mental illness (if required), supportive counseling around living with illness/risk of illness/managing illness vulnerability, and referral to support organizations as required. |
|
| EB | Active Comparator | Educational Booklet (EB): One educational booklet that provides information about the causes of mental illnesses, and the chances for relatives of affected individuals to develop mental illness will be provided to participants. |
|
| WT | No Intervention | Waitlist (WT) |
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genetic Counseling | Behavioral | One face-to-face genetic counseling session of 1-2hours duration, with a board certified or board eligible genetic counselor which will involve, documentation of a detailed family history, discussion of: the contributors to mental illness pathogenesis, illness risk reduction strategies, chances for family members to develop mental illness (if required), supportive counseling around living with illness/risk of illness/managing illness vulnerability, and referral to support organizations as required. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge, risk perception, stigma, perceived control | immediately post intervention and 1 month post intervention |
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Inclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Jehannine Austin, PhD, CCGC, CGC | University of British Columbia | Principal Investigator |
| Erin Michalak | University of British Columbia | Study Director |
| William Honer, MD | University of British Columbia | Study Director |
| Catriona Hippman, MSc | University of British Columbia | Study Director |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre for Complex Disorders, BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Institute | Vancouver | British Columbia | V5Z 4H4 | Canada |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26930535 | Derived | Hippman C, Ringrose A, Inglis A, Cheek J, Albert AY, Remick R, Honer WG, Austin JC. A pilot randomized clinical trial evaluating the impact of genetic counseling for serious mental illnesses. J Clin Psychiatry. 2016 Feb;77(2):e190-8. doi: 10.4088/JCP.14m09710. |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D012559 | Schizophrenia |
| D001714 | Bipolar Disorder |
| D011618 | Psychotic Disorders |
| D057545 | Social Stigma |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D019967 | Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders |
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |
| D000068105 | Bipolar and Related Disorders |
| D019964 | Mood Disorders |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D005817 | Genetic Counseling |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D033142 | Genetic Services |
| D006296 | Health Services |
| D005159 | Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services |
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|
| Educational Booklet | Behavioral | One educational booklet that provides information about the causes of mental illnesses, and the chances for relatives of affected individuals to develop mental illness will be provided to participants. |
|
| D012919 | Social Behavior |
| D001519 | Behavior |