Some patients report that they would use genetic test information as an impetus for lifestyle changes (Appelbaum, 2004; Austin & Honer, 2007). In a qualitative study using the 5-HTTLPR gene as a test case, many of the 36 unaffected participants in focus groups thought that knowing they had a genetic risk for depression would cause them to learn more about depression, increase their vigilance for symptoms, undertake preventive strategies, reduce their stress, improve their diet, exercise more, and limit their drug and alcohol intake (Wilde et al., 2009). Only some persons would consider taking prophylactic medication in response to genetic test results indicating risk (Hoop, 2008; Wilde et al., 2009). Smith et al.’s (1996) survey of 48 bipolar patients in a support group found high interest in prophylactic medication, but this interest was proportional to the anticipated disease severity or the likelihood of developing the disease. In DeLisi and Bertisch’s (2006) study on schizophrenia, 71% of persons with affected family members would take preventive medicine, as would 56% of clinical psychiatrists (100% would prescribe it), and 45% of psychiatric genetic
