Overview: referrals for genetic evaluation from child psychiatrists

Abstract

A growing multitude of known genetic diagnoses can result in presentation to child psychiatry. For numerous reasons, it is important to identify a genetic etiology in child psychiatry patients when it is present. Genetic diagnoses can guide treatment and enable access to specialized clinics and appropriate screening measures. They can also allow for genetic counseling for the patient and family. A better understanding of etiology with a named diagnosis can itself be of great value to many patients and families; prognostic information can be empowering. Since patients with genetic conditions may present to psychiatric care in diverse ways, child psychiatrists must decide who to refer for genetic evaluation. Here we create a table to provide a framework of concerning/notable history and exam features that a practicing child psychiatrist may encounter that should prompt one to consider whether a larger, unifying genetic diagnosis is at hand. We hope this framework will facilitate referral of child psychiatry patients to genetics so that more patients can benefit from an appropriate diagnosis.

Background

A growing multitude of known genetic diagnoses can result in presentation to child psychiatry. The prevalence of genetic diagnoses among child psychiatry patients is best studied for autism, where 10–20 % of cases have a diagnosable genetic cause [e.g. Fragile X (FXS)] [1–6]. There is little information about the prevalence of genetic conditions in child psychiatry patients more generally. There are a large number of different genetic conditions that may lead to psychiatric presentation in a child. A December 2015 search of the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database (OMIM.org^®), a catalog of genetic conditions, reveals 42 genetic etiologic associations for both psychiatric symptoms and autism. As genetic understanding continues to progress, the overlap with child psychiatry grows and it becomes increasingly important for child psychiatrists to recognize signs of a possible underlying genetic diagnoses [7].

In some instances, a genetic condition may have a typical psychiatric presentation and psychiatric symptoms may appear isolated. In such cases, presentation may be indistinguishable from that of a typical psychiatric patient whose disease is polygenic and multifactorial and genetic diagnosis is more difficult [8]. However, in many cases a genetic etiology may be suggested by features of history or physical exam. If child psychiatrists are aware of red flags signifying possible genetic condition, more patients can be appropriately diagnosed.

This article addresses two questions: Why is it important to diagnose genetic conditions in child psychiatry patients? What should prompt a child psychiatrist to request a genetic consult for a patient?

Main text

Benefits of diagnosing genetic conditions

Identifying a genetic etiology in child psychiatry patients has many benefits [9]. Diagnosis of specific genetic conditions can guide treatment and allow access to specialized healthcare. For example, depression may herald Wilson disease, which can be effectively treated with chelators [10]. In metabolic disorders with psychiatric symptoms, a diagnosis can allow for appropriate management to avoid metabolic decompensations, which worsen both psychiatric and somatic symptoms [8]. In children with FXS, hyperactivity responds particularly well to methylphenidate. Hyperactivity is more responsive to methylphenidate as part of FXS versus part of autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disability, or possibly even non-specific ADHD [3]. When diagnosed, these patients can be put directly on methylphenidate and avoid many medication trials, which carry associated risks. Furthermore, because psychiatric symptoms may arise years before more specific organic signs, certain treatments may be more effective at the ‘psychiatric stage’ before occurrence of irreversible lesions. This is particularly true for metabolic disorders [11]. Genetic diagnosis also enables access to specialized clinics with greater understanding of and experience with these complex presentations [12]. There are a growing number of condition-specific and neurogenetic clinics that may be very beneficial to patients. Because wait times to appointments can be challenging, other consultation strategies (e.g. telehealth) may be considered.

Additionally, some genetic conditions are associated with known medical complications and may require routine screening or further medical work-up. For example, a patient presenting with autism spectrum disorder and macrocephaly who is found to have a PTEN mutation can then be enrolled in a cancer screening protocol. Further, diagnosis can allow for appropriate genetic counseling for the patient and family [12, 13].

Finally, a better understanding of etiology with a named diagnosis may itself be of great value to many. Most individuals would rather know they have a serious disease than continue without a diagnosis [14]. Diagnosis allows for improved understanding, educational planning, and social support, and peer networking [15, 16]. Prognostic information can be empowering.

Indications for genetic consultation

It is not practical to conduct a genetic workup on all patients, so child psychiatrists must decide whom to refer for genetic evaluation [1]. Child psychiatrists are in an important position to diagnose genetic conditions, as they often see children for whom a diagnosis has been elusive, who have unusual presentations, or who have been difficult to treat.

Patients with genetic conditions may present to psychiatric care in diverse ways. Table 1 shows genetic conditions that may in rare cases account for typical child psychiatry presentations. Psychiatric symptoms may be apparently isolated, making genetic diagnosis difficult. However, often a careful history and physical provides hints to a genetic diagnosis.

Table 1 Genetic syndromes may in rare cases manifest in more general child psychiatry presentations

Some unusual psychiatric presentations or behaviors may suggest a particular genetic etiology. Skin picking may occur in Prader-Willi syndrome [25] while severe disruptions of sleep and nail pulling suggest Smith-Magenis syndrome [26]. In many cases, non-psychiatric features of the history or exam will provide clues to genetic etiology.

The purpose of Table 2 is to present a framework of notable history and exam features that should prompt a child psychiatrist to consider whether there is a larger, unifying genetic diagnosis at hand. All of these features are recognized as markers in pediatric genetic practice, however here the goal is to isolate the flags most likely to present in a child psychiatry practice [27]. This table is just a starting point and should not be considered exhaustive.

Table 2 Red flags for a possible genetic diagnosis in child psychiatry patients

If one or more of these red flags are present, a child psychiatrist should consider requesting a genetic consultation. Whenever possible, genetic tests should be ordered in conjunction with a genetic team. On a practical level, determining which genetic tests to order can be confusing and outside the usual practice of most child psychiatrists. Even more important, many child psychiatrists are not comfortable explaining the intricacies of genetic testing and lack the infrastructure to deal with ramifications of positive results [28]. Informed consent must include discussion of the risks of genetic testing, which include harms associated with resultant treatments and incidental findings that can be life changing or psychologically disruptive [29]. There may be particular cases in which a child psychiatrist has experience with or training relevant to a certain genetic test and feels comfortable ordering this test, so this remains an individual call. However, in most cases it is best to involve a genetic team and employ their associated infrastructure. It is our hope that this table will help child psychiatrists communicate with genetic teams by allowing them to pinpoint the red flags that led them to consider a genetic etiology.

Conclusions

It is important to identify a genetic etiology in child psychiatry patients when it is present, as it has implications for treatment and counseling. Patients with genetic conditions may have unusual psychiatric symptoms or other abnormal history and physical findings. Here we present a table of red flags that a practicing child psychiatrist may identify, which could indicate an underlying genetic diagnosis. We hope this table will inspire child psychiatrists to think about genetic possibilities in their patient populations and make referrals for genetic evaluation when appropriate. Future work will be needed to validate this table in practice. However, being aware of these the flags has immediate utility in the clinical practice of child psychiatrists. To highlight how simple practice changes may have a big impact for diagnosing conditions, we provide a short list of tips and resources for making a genetic diagnosis in child psychiatry (Table 3). We hope that this commentary will encourage child psychiatrists to think about their growing overlap with the field of genetics. Recognition of the importance of genetic diagnoses in child psychiatry patients may stimulate more research into the prevalence of genetic disease, effective methods of screening and diagnosis, and strategies for treatment and management for these patients.

Table 3 Short list of tips and resources for making genetic diagnoses in child psychiatry