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Minding the Genes: a Multidisciplinary Approach towards Genetic Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Journal of Genetic Counseling

Abstract

Genetic assessment for inherited cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increasingly available, due in part to rapid innovations in genetic sequencing technologies. While genetic testing is aimed at reducing uncertainty, it also produces awareness of potential medical conditions and can leave patients feeling uncertain about their risk, especially if there are ambiguous results. This uncertainty can produce psychological distress for patients and their families undergoing the assessment process. Additionally, patients may experience psychological distress related to living with inherited CVD. In order to more effectively manage the psychosocial challenges related to genetic assessment for CVD, a multidisciplinary model expanded to include psychologists and other allied health professionals is outlined. A case study is provided to illustrate how psychological distress can manifest in a patient living with inherited CVD, as well as proposed psychological management of this patient. Finally, a guide for genetic counselors is provided to aid in identifying and managing common psychological reactions to genetic assessment for CVD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA

    Ashley Rhodes, Lindsey Rosman & Samuel F. Sears

  2. Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA

    John Cahill & Samuel F. Sears

  3. Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology, Centenary Institute, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia

    Jodie Ingles

  4. Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia

    Jodie Ingles

  5. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Brittney Murray, Crystal Tichnell & Cynthia A. James

Authors
  1. Ashley Rhodes
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  2. Lindsey Rosman
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  3. John Cahill
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  4. Jodie Ingles
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  5. Brittney Murray
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  6. Crystal Tichnell
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  7. Cynthia A. James
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  8. Samuel F. Sears
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Samuel F. Sears.

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Conflict of Interest

Crystal Tichnell and Cynthia James receive salary support from research grants with St. Jude Medical Foundation and Boston Scientific Corp.

Dr. Sears has research grants from Medtronic that are directed to East Carolina University. Dr. Sears also serves as a consultant to Medtronic and funds are directed to East Carolina University. Dr. Sears serves as a consultant to St Jude Medical. He has received speaker honorarium from Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Zoll Medical, Respironics, and St. Jude Medical in the last two years. Dr. Sears is the founder of QOL Apps, Inc. and inventor of ICD Coach.

Ashley Rhodes, Lindsey Rosman, John Cahill, Jodie Ingles, and Brittney Murray declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human Studies and Informed Consent

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. For this type of study formal consent is not required.

Animal Studies

No animal studies were carried out by the authors for this article.

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Rhodes, A., Rosman, L., Cahill, J. et al. Minding the Genes: a Multidisciplinary Approach towards Genetic Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease. J Genet Counsel 26, 224–231 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-016-0017-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-016-0017-z

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