Ever wonder why your health care providers always ask about your family history in regards to your health?
DNA contains a lot of information about your mental and physical health. DNA is like the blueprint of your body.
Many medical and psychological disorders have a strong genetic component. Meaning that some conditions are passed down to the next of kin.
So what does that mean exactly?
Well for one you may look back into your psychological history to see what disorders have been passed down. There are other factors that can influence the progression of certain disorders.
The National Institute of Health reports the following mental health disorders with strong genetic components:
(1) Autism
(2) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
(3) bipolar disorder
(4) major depression
(5) schizophrenia (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2015)
It is important to note that if you have a family history of a mental illness, it does not mean you will necessarily get it. A family history indicates if you are at a high risk of developing a disorder.
What should I do?
Many recommend you create a genealogical family tree. A genealogical tree is designed for the consumer to back trace their family relatives.
The only drawback is that you may have to ask your living relatives in regards to mental health disorders.
This is where it gets complicated. Some relatives are able to give accurate information, while others have no information.
Not only that but some may even be adopted and may not know anything about their birth parents. There are some agencies that may still have your family records.
You can also ask your healthcare provider to refer you to a genetic counselor.
What is a genetic counselor?
A genetic counselor might provide information about how a genetic condition could affect an individual or family and/or interpret genetic tests designed to help estimate the risk of a disease.
Genetic counselors are responsible for providing information relating to any genetic conditions.
Genetic counselors use a variety of tests to see what conditions you are susceptible to.
The great thing about DNA is that it holds all your genetic information. It can be scary not knowing what sort of genes you may carry.
Fortunately, scientists continue to research the human genome.
The Human genome is a set of 23 pairs of chromosomes that contains all the information needed for an individual to develop and function (National Human Genome Research Institute, 2023).
The human genome is very complex to understand and there are multiple factors that affect our ability to function.
Scientists continue to research the human genome to enhance the quality of healthcare.
What does that mean?
With this genetic information, we will be able to comprehend how medical and psychological conditions are developed. According to the NHS of England (2020) reports that “genomic research offers the hope of better understanding the root causes of mental illness: by finding specific genes which are involved in these devastating illnesses, we might gain some understanding of the pathological processes leading to their development and ultimately develop better treatments (NHS, 2020).
Not knowing about your past can be worrisome.
Fortunately, there are healthcare providers that can guide you to the right path. Talk to your doctor to see what they would recommend.
It is never too late to teach your own family to start developing a medical family tree.
This information can be extremely valuable for the next generation.
You may even want to start collecting resources that may be helpful for you in the future. In summation, do not be afraid to ask for help, you are not alone.
This post was written by Jasmine P., and published by Convenient Counseling Services.
Live in New York and want to learn more about working with us? Check us out here!
Check out more content like this here.
References:
NHS England. (2020, November 6). Keeping genes in mind: genomics and mental illness. NHS choices. https://www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/blog/keeping-genes-in-mind-genomics-and-mental-illness/
National Human Genome Research Institute. (2023, December 4). Genetic counseling. Genome.gov. https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Genetic-Counseling
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2015, May 15). Common genetic factors found in 5 mental disorders. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/common-genetic-factors-found-5-mental-disorders#:~:text=Scientists%20have%20long%20recognized%20that,disorder%2C%20major%20depression%20and%20schizophrenia.
