Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/02/2015
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location
SGDP Seminar Room
Category(ies)
Jehannine Austin
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia
Recent rapid progress in psychiatric genomics have produced a substantial and growing list of genetic variations that we can confidently identify as contributing to the etiology of conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. This progress is accompanied by a need for urgent attention to the question of how to apply this knowledge clinically, in such a way as to promote the best possible outcomes for those who live with psychiatric disorders and their families. This presentation will explore the psychological importance for people with psychiatric illness and their families of understanding the role of genetics in the cause of illness, and will present patient outcome data from the worlds first specialist psychiatric genetic counseling service. The process of communication about risk in relation to genetics and psychiatric disorders and the attendant ethical issues will also be discussed.