Attitudes Toward Genetic Testing for Bipolar Disorder Among Healthcare Providers

Bipolar disorder (BP) affects one percent of the world's population and has a strong genetic component. Susceptibility loci for BP are being identified and direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing for genetic variants currently exists. This study assessed attitudes toward future clinical genetic testing for BP and awareness of and beliefs regarding DTC genetic testing for BP among psychiatrists and genetic counselors. One hundred thirty four members of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) were recruited through the NSGC listserv. Thirty Mount Sinai psychiatrists were recruited through the psychiatry listserv or in-person. Genetic counselors and psychiatrists held positive attitudes toward genetic testing of adults; psychiatrists also endorsed genetic testing of children with parental consent. Genetic counselors had a greater awareness of DTC genetic testing and were more likely to agree that DTC results would influence future healthcare decisions. Our findings suggest that healthcare providers are open to future genetic testing for BP.