Psychiatry and mental health

The integration of genomics into mental health care is increasingly important, as genetic factors can influence the diagnosis and management of psychiatric conditions. By equipping mental health professionals with accessible genomic resources, the aim is to enhance patient outcomes through more personalised care strategies.

Mental Health GeNotes

Mental Health GeNotes is now live. Available to view here: https://www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/genotes/mental-health/

This addition aims to support mental health professionals in integrating genomic testing into patient care, reflecting the growing recognition of genomics' role in mental health diagnostics and treatment.

The mental health element is the 11th collection added to GeNotes. It provides clinicians with concise, practical information to aid decision-making at various stages of the clinical pathway.

Developed in collaboration with NHS clinical experts, the resources are designed for use directly within clinical settings.

GeNotes is organized into two tiers to cater to different learning needs:

• In the Clinic: This tier offers brief, scenario-based articles focused on patient care. These resources guide clinicians through processes such as determining patient eligibility for genomic testing, selecting appropriate tests, and interpreting results. The content is concise, facilitating quick reference during patient consultations.

• Knowledge Hub: Serving as an encyclopaedia, this tier provides in-depth resources on various topics, including specific conditions, genes, inheritance patterns, and genomic technologies. The materials are presented in diverse formats, such as text, images, narrated slide decks, and animations, allowing for flexible, self-directed learning.

Genomics in psychiatry practice

As genomics becomes part of routine healthcare across a wide areas of healthcare, having a sound knowledge of its application within professional practice will be vital, to aid interactions with patient and improve professional practice.

These 10 min talks are aimed at psychiatric professionals in the UK and aim to provide a basic overview of the principles of genomics relevant to psychiatry and other mental health professionals.

Genomic medicine is being embedded into many different services within the NHS, we hope these talks will improve interactions with patients and your practice.

These talks were kindly prepared and presented by NHS staff from across the UK.

Introduction to Genomics recording from Dr G Beaman