Genetic Counselling in the Prevention of Mental Health Consequences of Cannabis Use

Severe mental illness (SMI) refers to the most burdensome forms of psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression. These illnesses typically emerge in adolescence or young adulthood and are associated with substantial impairment in functioning. A significant proportion (~30%) of individuals with SMI remain resistant to any form of available pharmacotherapy. The combination of early onset, poor response to treatment and persistent disability makes SMI the most problematic group of illnesses to individuals and society. The need for early interventions to pre-empt the onset of SMI is pressing because once SMI develops, quality of life is poor for patients and their families. There is substantial overlap in the genetic and environmental risk factors for individual forms of SMI, and predictors of SMI are not specific to any one disorder. It is therefore necessary to conceptualize SMI as transdiagnostic and include diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression, rather than focusing on single illnesses when developing preventative interventions. Prevention of SMI is currently hindered by the inability to identify those at risk early enough to normalize their developmental trajectory. Recent advances in genomics and the understanding of important gene-environment interactions may help overcome this challenge and enable effective and targeted prevention of SMI. Cannabis exposure during critical periods of brain maturation is an avoidable environmental risk factor for SMI. A replicated gene-cannabis interaction shows that carriers of a common genetic variant (C alleles at rs2494732 in the AKT1 gene) are at up to 7-fold increased risk of developing psychosis if they use cannabis. Genetic counselling provides a powerful tool to communicate genetic information to youth in a way that empowers and enhances health. The present project involves the delivery of a genetic counselling intervention to inform youth of their personalized risk of developing SMI based on genotype, family history, and whether or not they choose to use cannabis. This project will be the first application of molecular genetic information and genetic counselling to prevent SMI.

Aim: To test if genetic counselling regarding personalized risk information based on a replicated gene-cannabis interaction reduces cannabis use in youth at high risk of developing severe mental illness.

Hypotheses:

1. A genetic counselling intervention will be acceptable to youth at high familial risk of SMI.

2. A genetic counselling intervention with personalized feedback of AKT1 genotype will reduce cannabis use among vulnerable youth.

3. The effect of the intervention will be moderated by AKT1 genotype, with greater reduction of cannabis use among carriers of the sensitive C alleles.

Method: A cohort of over 450 youth (aged 3-29) has been enrolled as part of the Families Overcoming Risks and Building Opportunities for Well-being (FORBOW) study. The investigators have obtained biological samples for measurement of genetic variation and the investigators will obtain biological samples to measure cannabis exposure. The investigators will randomly select one in every two eligible youth (aged 12-21) to be offered genetic counselling during which the participants will be provided with personalized genetic information and they will be counselled regarding risk of developing SMI based on genotype, family history, and whether or not they choose to use cannabis. The investigators will follow the participants through the developmental period with the highest risk of cannabis use initiation and the investigators will assess cannabis use and psychopathology annually. The primary outcome will be abstinence from cannabis reported by participants in confidential interviews and confirmed by measurement of the primary metabolites of psychoactive Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in blood and urine samples.

Significance: This project will realize the first translational application of a gene-environment interaction to improve mental health and test an intervention with potential public health benefits.