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How will information about the genetic risk of mental disorders reduce stigma?

journal contribution
posted on 2008-01-01, 00:00 authored by M Spriggs, Craig OlssonCraig Olsson, W Hall
Objectives: To suggest ways of testing hypotheses about the impact that information on genetic risk may have on the social stigma of mental disorders and to analyse the implications of these hypotheses for genetic screening for mental disorders.

Method: Literature review and critical analysis and synthesis.

Results: An optimistic view is that information on the genetic risk for mental disorders will reduce blame and social stigma experienced by individuals living with mental disorder. A more pessimists view is that genetic risk information and the use of predictive genetic testing will lead to earlier stigmatization of those at risk of mental disorders. Research is identified that is needed to provide a better understanding of the implications of predictive genetic testing for the stigmatization of different mental health disorders.

Conclusions: It is essential that research on the genetics of mental disorders is accompanied by social science research on the ways in which genetic findings influence the lives of those who are tested.

History

Journal

Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry

Volume

42

Issue

3

Pagination

214 - 220

Publisher

Sage Publications

Location

London, U. K.

ISSN

0004-8674

eISSN

1440-1614

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2008, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists