Training in Psychiatric Genomics During Residency: A New Challenge

Abstract

The authors ascertained the amount of training in psychiatric genomics that is provided in North American psychiatric residency programs. A sample of 217 chief residents in psychiatric residency programs in the United States and Canada were identified by e-mail and surveyed to assess their training in psychiatric genetics and genomics. Eighty chief residents completed the survey for a response rate of 37%. Forty-five respondents (56%) reported that during their residency training they received 3 or fewer hours of training in genomics. Of these, 13 reported that they had received no training in genomics. Chief residents who received 3 or fewer hours of training were more likely to indicate that they had not actively participated in a multidisciplinary team which utilized genetic/genomic specialists than residents who had received more didactic training in genomics (p<0.001). Although 67% of 77 respondents indicated that they understood the concept of genetic predisposition to psychiatric disease, only 14% of 80 respondents indicated that they understood the role a genetic counselor could play on a clinical team. Training in the clinical applications of genomic testing has not been thoroughly implemented in some residency programs.