Forgo genetic testing for mental disorders such as bipolar disorder for now. The commercial tests which are coming on the market now offer little in the way of useful, actionable information, and can only tell you whether you may be at increased risk for a tiny subset of genes which may have a slightly higher incidence connected to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Worse yet, the vast majority of people who are diagnosed with a disorder that may have a genetic component do not carry the genes these tests look for. That means that the test could come back negative, and you could still have the disorder. So what’s the point then?

Someday, genetic testing may prove useful in mental disorder diagnosis and prevention. But that day is still many years — and perhaps even decades — away. Don’t get suckered in by these companies looking to prey on people’s misunderstanding of these tests and the stigma associated with these disorders.

Read the full article at the Philadelphia Inquirer: A $400 test to evaluate your chances of bipolar disorder?

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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» Forgo Genetic Testing — For Now (5/11/2008)

    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 8 May 2008
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