How can you help patients who have bipolar disorder -- or their family members -- understand the connection between the disorder and genetics? For guidance, view the free AAFP Video CME program "Bipolar Disorder," the latest online offering from the Annual Clinical Focus 2005 Genomics.
ACF 2005 Genomics
View Video CME Program on Bipolar Disorder
By News Staff
9/23/2005
"The prevalence of this disorder is about 1 percent in the general population, so any family physician is going to see affected individuals or family members concerned about it," says Nancy Stevens, M.D., in her introduction to the interactive video. She is professor in the family medicine department at the University of Washington, Seattle, and medical director of ACF 2005 Genomics.
"Research indicates a strong genetic role in psychiatric illness," says Stevens. "The genetics of psychiatric illness highlights the emerging importance of pharmacogenetics as well as the first and most basic of all genetics tests, the family history."
The Academy teamed up with the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics to develop the video. It includes physician/patient vignettes, a clinical presentation, illustrations and graphics, links to key information, a reference guide and a Web tour of resources.
"At the end of this program, you should have a better understanding of the role genes and the environment play in psychiatric disorders, be able to use family history information to inform your risk assessment, and gain some insights into current research and future directions for the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder and other psychiatric disorders," says Stevens.
"Research indicates a strong genetic role in psychiatric illness," says Stevens. "The genetics of psychiatric illness highlights the emerging importance of pharmacogenetics as well as the first and most basic of all genetics tests, the family history."
The Academy teamed up with the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics to develop the video. It includes physician/patient vignettes, a clinical presentation, illustrations and graphics, links to key information, a reference guide and a Web tour of resources.
"At the end of this program, you should have a better understanding of the role genes and the environment play in psychiatric disorders, be able to use family history information to inform your risk assessment, and gain some insights into current research and future directions for the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder and other psychiatric disorders," says Stevens.
