Bipolar Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder, Schizophrenia
Conditions
Keywords
Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Schizoaffective disorder, Genetic Counseling, Risk perception, Stigma, Control, Knowledge, family members, Sibling parent or child with schizophrenia, Sibling parent or child with bipolar disorder, Sibling parent or child with schizoaffective disorder
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).
Interventions
BEHAVIORALGenetic 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
Sponsors
University of British Columbia
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
19 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
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
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed