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Assessment of Familial Risks in the Functional Psychoses and their Application in Genetic Counselling

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

D. W. K. Kay*
Affiliation:
The University of Tasmania, Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia

Extract

Now that the evidence for genetic factors in the major psychoses is very strong but still essentially circumstantial (what is transmitted is unknown), there is a danger that myths about the nonexistence of mental illness may be replaced by equally misleading myths about its inheritance. The need for genetic counselling is therefore likely to increase (counselling is advice given as a result of consultation). Admittedly, the literature on counselling in mental illness is scanty, the author's own experience slight, and the public demand small. Reed (1972) stated that less than 1 per cent of the 3,000 cases seen at the Dight Institute over 20 years were concerned with schizophrenia. Nevertheless, it is probable that much unrequested and ill-informed advice is being given.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1978 

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