To better understand the likely uptake of genetic testing for psychiatric disorders; the challenges facing patients, families, and physicians in interpreting the data; and the consequences of testing—both positive and negative—better-designed studies will be required. Future efforts should be based on large, representative samples, drawn from populations that have not participated in genetic research, with clearly defined hypotheses that are subject to appropriate statistical comparisons. Also missing from the literature are frank dialogues about the role that professional and popular opinion should play when formulating policies on psychiatric genetics. The most widely endorsed opinions are not necessarily the wisest. Especially concerning is the possibility that many views may be based on misinformation about what genetic testing offers. As research on the genetics of psychiatric disorders opens the door to increased use of genetic testing for predictive and diagnostic purposes, consideration of the data and their implications will be essential to the development of rational policy and practice.
