Impact of Genetic Counseling for Female First Degree Relatives of Individuals With Mental Illness

Phase 3

Completed

Brief Summary: Women with a close relative who has experienced mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder often have a poor understanding of the causes of the illness, and are often very worried about the chance that any children that they have will become affected with the same illness. Often, because of this fear, these healthy women 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 women who have a first degree relative with a major mental illness.

Detailed Description: We will recruit 75 women who have a close relative with 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).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Fluent in English, and
Have a first degree relative diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar, or schizoaffective disorder, and
Reside in BC, and be able to attend 3 study visits over 1.5 months

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
GC	Genetic Counseling	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	Genetic Counseling	Educational Booklet: 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

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
knowledge	immediately post intervention and 1 month post intervention
risk perception	immediately post intervention and 1 month post intervention
stigma	immediately post intervention and 1 month post intervention
perceived control	immediately post intervention and 1 month post intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method

Locations (1): Centre for Complex Disorders, BC Mental Health and Addictions Reserach Institute
🇨🇦
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Receive instant email notifications about changes in this clinical trial

Receive instant email notifications about changes in this clinical trial