Caution urged in testing for depression genes

A cautious approach is needed in implementing genetic tests that can reveal a vulnerability to depression, according to an editorial in the British Journal of Psychiatry. Earlier this year a research group at the University of New South Wales found that two-thirds of people in clinical studies of depression consented to a test for variants of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene, and they generally found the process helpful. The editorial, however, said there should be limits on the use of the 5-HTT test until its clinical utility and broader social impact were better understood. There were well-known ethical and practical challenges in interpreting the complex genetics of any chronic disease. “Psychiatry is also arguably a unique branch of medicine in that it involves the interplay between values, science and clinical judgment,” it said. “Introducing molecular data to explain what some may see as their ‘true self’ could give rise to challenges to self-understanding.” Issues in genetic testing for depression included the nature of pre- and post-test counselling, and the cost. There were also concerns about the potential application to children and adolescents, and even prenatal testing, when the parents had a history of depression. British Journal of Psychiatry 2009; 195: 189-190....