To read this content please select one of the options below:

Client-centred clinical genetic diagnostics

Maarten Otter (Forensic Psychiatric Department for People with Learning Disabilities, STEVIG, Dichterbij, Venray, The Netherlands; and Department of Community Mental Health in Learning Disabilities, Trajectum, Zutphen, The Netherlands)
Constance Stumpel (Department of Clinical Genetics, School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands)
Therese van Amelsvoort (Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands)

Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities

ISSN: 2044-1282

Article publication date: 2 January 2018

203

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish the value of clinical genetic diagnostics in the lives of people with an intellectual disability (ID), their families, and their primary and professional caregivers. It has been shown that psychologists are more likely to make use of the opportunities offered by clinical genetic diagnostics if they have seen the psychological benefits in their own practice. Moreover, this paper aims to promote the practice of informing people with ID, their families, and other caregivers regarding the current technological advances in genetic diagnostics, thereby allowing these patients to decide for themselves whether to utilise these opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors report four case studies in which the psychosocial value to each patient is pivotal.

Findings

In these four cases, it is clear the medical model can augment the social model by providing an interpretation of its meaningfulness in the lives of the people concerned.

Research limitations/implications

Case studies alone can have limited scientific significance. This approach examining the significance of clinical genetic diagnosis should be studied further in larger groups.

Practical implications

It is hoped that psychologists and other professional caregivers will become enthused about the value of clinical genetic diagnostics and will choose to discuss the option of referral for clinical genetic diagnostics with their patients more often.

Social implications

People with an ID who are seeking mental health care, and their caregivers, should be given the opportunity to take part in the decision regarding whether to use clinical genetic diagnostics, which may even have a destigmatising effect.

Originality/value

Quality of life may improve for people with an ID seeking mental healthcare and for their caregivers as well by opening up discussion regarding the opportunities presented by clinical genetic diagnostics. The fact that people are able to make their own choices based on their own considerations can have a destigmatising effect.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

© Maarten Otter, Constance Stumpel and Therese van Amelsvoort. This Work has been published previously in its current or substantially similar form, I warrant that I am the copyright holder of the previously published Work, and that the previously published Work is fully attributed and referenced.

This paper is adapted from Client-centred klinisch-genetische diagnostiek (Client-Centred Clinical Genetic Diagnostics) by M. Otter, C. Stumpel, and T. van Amelsvoort In: Didden R., Troost P.W., Moonen X.M., Groen W.B. (Eds) Handboek psychiatrie en lichte verstandelijke beperking (Handbook of Psychiatry and Mild Intellectual Impairment), Utrecht: De Tijdstroom; 2016. pp. 331-42. The authors would like to thank the Editor-in-chief and the publishers for their cooperation. The authors would also like to thank T. van den Hazel (Clinical Psychologist/Psychotherapist) and J. Enserink (Psychotherapist/Healthcare Psychologist) for critically reading this paper.

Citation

Otter, M., Stumpel, C. and van Amelsvoort, T. (2018), "Client-centred clinical genetic diagnostics", Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-06-2017-0025

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles