Psychiatric disorders are a major burden to many. And, unfortunately, the communication of psychiatric genetic information into clinical care is lacking. A current study aims to identify and summarize the bottleneck in communication via a robust literature review and offer solutions for how to move forward.
Translating Psychiatric Genetic Information
Psychiatric genetic research consists of a range of information on psychiatric disorders – from genomic markers to family history. Successful clinical care for psychiatric disorders primarily relies on behavioral and medical therapies. Using psychiatric genetic information would significantly add to these options by complementing both. For example, robust family history and being able to calculate the family density of a disorder could help patients better understand and take ownership (or relinquish guilt) over their disorder. It remains to be seen exactly how such information will impact clinical care and patients’ behaviors, but research teams are prepared to do this work.
Psychiatric Genetic Information Translational Bottlenecks
Four bottlenecks were identified in the study. If these bottlenecks are corrected then the valuable translation of psychiatric genetic information into clinical care may begin to occur more systematically, comprehensively and frequently.
The bottlenecks were as follows:
Translating Psychiatric Genetic Information
It is possible to translate psychiatric genetic information into clinical care for psychiatric disorders sooner rather than later. Correcting the highlighted bottlenecks will, undoubtedly, improve patient outcomes in treatment. This will require concerted efforts by many stakeholders involved in clinical care, from funders to administrators. The burden must not simply fall to researchers and clinicians to study how best to translate psychiatric genetic information into clinical care.
Learn More About Wellbridge Research
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