Portrayal of psychiatric genetics in print news media

January 01, 0001

Portrayal of psychiatric genetics in print news media

The aim of the researchers was to investigate how Australian print news media portray psychiatric genetics. It consisted of a content and framing analysis of a structured sample of print news items about psychiatric genetics published in Australian newspapers between 1996 and 2009. They analysed 406 eligible items about the genetics of psychiatric disorders.

News coverage of psychiatric genetics has steadily increased since 1996. Items attributing the aetiology of psychiatric disorders to gene-environment interactions (51%) outnumbered items attributing only genetic (30%) or only environmental factors (20%). Of items that referred to heritability of mental illness, frames of genetic determinism (78%) occurred more frequently than probabilistic frames (22%). Of frames related to genetic prophesy, genetic optimism frames (78%) were used more frequently than frames of genetic pessimism (22%). Psychosocial and ethical implications of psychiatric genetics received comparatively relatively little coverage (23%). The analysis identified 22 predictions about psychiatric genetic discoveries and the availability of molecular- based interventions in psychiatry, most of which (20/22, 91%) failed to manifest by the predicted year.

The researchers concluded: "Excessive optimism about the power of genetic technology in psychiatric health care, perceived clinical benefits, and largely unfulfilled predictions about availability of these benefits could encourage unrealistic expectations about future molecular-based treatment options for mental health."

From negative reporting to being overly optimistic .. and most try to hope there is no stigma in this area.

For the full abstract, click here.

MJA 195(7):401-404, 3 October 2011 © 2011 to The Medical Journal of Australia
Portrayal of psychiatric genetics in Australian print news media, 1996-2009. Alex Wilde, Catriona Bonfiglioli, Bettina Meiser, Philip B Mitchell and Peter R Schofield. Correspondence to Alex Wilde: alex.wilde@unsw.edu.au

Category: P. Psychological. Keywords: psychiatric, genetics, portrayal, media, analysis of print news, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Stephen Wilkinson, Melbourne, Australia. Posted on Global Family Doctor 21 October 2011

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