Genetic Counseling for Bipolar Disorders

By Sandra Kiume
July 12, 2006

The Foundation for Genetic Education and Counseling’s web site (and brochures on PDF) offers info on genetics and bipolar disorder. There isn’t a detailed look at current research, nor do they delve into the increasingly controversial topic of gene therapy (not available to the consumer yet, but a hot topic among ethicists and disability rights groups). The web site also needs to replace a handful of “coming soon” pages with content.

What it does have online is a good overview of the basics, for individuals and families affected by this affective disorder.

A factsheet explains what’s involved in genetic counseling as well as addressing questions about risk factors, family planning, treatments, and the threat of gene discrimination (US national legislation is in the works to prevent genetic information discrimination in health insurance and employment).

Basically, genetic counselling helps families understand, cope with and plan around genetic risks. The FGEC helps to reduce stigma with genetic mental illness, and also points individual consumers towards available genetic counselors.

Links to This Article

From Psych Central's World of Psychology:
Friday Flashback for July 13, 2007 - World of Psychology (7/13/2007)

7 Comments to
“Genetic Counseling for Bipolar Disorders”

xj at 11:18 am on February 20th, 2007

I am Chinese , English are not good.

I have Bipolar Disorders Clan history.I have grave depression I am very pained.

Is my child able to be handed?

I love my child,I do not hope that in the hereafter the child is depressed.How I do ability be avoided by the child depressed?

Help me please,Thank you!

xj at 11:34 am on February 20th, 2007

Inherit a gene deciding to get depression surely?

To the child, does mentality cultivate being able to avoid depression?

I do not hope that my child gets depression

Being answered by me and suggested that please.

Thank you!

Sandra Kiume at 8:40 pm on February 20th, 2007

I share your hope that your child avoids depression. It is 85% likely that your child will not inherit bipolar. But if she or he does, you can help with counselling, a healthy lifestyle, and possibly medication.

Here is some mental health information in Chinese: click here and also here.

xj at 10:07 am on February 21st, 2007

Thank you very much ,Sandra Kiume.

I see a news report on Chinese Sina Net.

http://news.sina.com.cn/w/2006-08-11/15599724981s.shtml

This news report says:Germany and the Canada scientific research personnel discover Bipolar Disorders inheritance probability betweenness 83% till 93%.

This news report lets me worry about very much.

Had you looked at such a news report?

Sandra Kiume at 1:53 am on February 22nd, 2007

I wasn’t able to find that news report in English, but I did look up scientific research at PubMed to find out more.

Heritability and risk are two different things. The risk of inheriting bipolar from a parent is fairly low, with percentages ranging up to about 15%. Heritability percentages are quite high, around 80-93% as you read in the news, but heritability just means that when someone has bipolar it’s likely to be from genes.

This means that while the risk of your developing it is low, but if he does become bipolar, it’s very likely because of genetics.

Does that make sense? I hope that helps. You don’t have to worry so much now.

Sandra Kiume at 1:55 am on February 22nd, 2007

Correction: This means that while the risk of your child becoming bipolar is low, but if he does develop bipolar, it would be very likely due to genetics.

Katherine at 1:41 pm on December 1st, 2007

Hi,
Reading your web site has brought tears of relief to my eyes. I am 41 years old and very scared about passing on bipolar gentically. My father had bipolar and committed suicide when I was 11. I have experienced depression and anorexia - probably mostly due to the trauma. The thought that the likelihood of passing this on is possibly less than 15% - I cannot tell you the relief. Thank you.

Kate