Returning Genetic Information About Risk for Alcohol Use Disorder to Adolescents : Findings of a Preliminary Qualitative Study of Precision Prevention

© 2023 Boston Children's Hospital..

Introduction: Alcohol use disorders are heritable, with genetic factors predicting approximately 50% of the risk. Returning information about genetic risk could promote avoidance of alcohol, reducing alcohol use disorder risk. This study explored attitudes toward a precision prevention model of alcohol use disorder targeting adolescents.

Methods: This study conducted interviews with adolescents and adults to explore attitudes about precision prevention of alcohol use disorders. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed to identify perceptions about acceptability, salience, potential harms, and benefits.

Results: Among N=13 participants (mean age 28.6 years, 7 female), 5 had undergone genetic testing, and 6 had a personal or family history of substance use disorder. Attitudes were favorable toward precision prevention of alcohol use disorders for adolescents. Perceived benefits included the potential to engage youth, motivate behavior change, protect family by sharing genetic information, and prompt insight into family problems. Perceived harms included the potential for anxiety, false sense of immunity from alcohol use disorders should genetic testing indicate no heightened risk, and experience of stigma from disclosure or breach of privacy.

Conclusions: This qualitative study identified the potential harms and benefits of a precision prevention approach for addressing alcohol use disorder risk targeting adolescents, along with appreciation for the complexities of the model. Research is needed to elucidate operational, ethical, and communication strategies to advance the model.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

2023

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:3

Enthalten in:

AJPM focus - 3(2023), 1 vom: 10. Feb., Seite 100153

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Weitzman, Elissa R [VerfasserIn]
Blakemore, Laura M [VerfasserIn]
Pierce, Sydney E [VerfasserIn]
Kossowsky, Joe [VerfasserIn]
Levy, Sharon [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Alcohol use disorder
Behavior
Genetic
Journal Article
Prevention
Risk

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 13.12.2023

published: Electronic-eCollection

Citation Status PubMed-not-MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.focus.2023.100153

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM365801542