Genetic Testing Does Not Appear to Increase Distress

According to a study presented at the annual Education Conference of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, women with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer who choose to undergo genetic testing appear to experience no significant psychological distress about their decision to be tested, even when an increased cancer risk is discovered.

All women are born with the so-called breast cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. However, the risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer significantly increases when these genes are damaged (mutated). About 50 to 60 percent of women with inherited mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes will develop breast cancer by the age of 70.

The study was a collaboration between the National Human Genome Research Institute and the National Cancer Institute. It involved 212 relatives from 13 hereditary breast and ovarian cancer families with known BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.

The participants were given questionnaires to measure depression, self-esteem and other psychological factors. The questionnaires were administered both prior to testing and six to nine months after the genetic test results were given, or would have been given had the at-risk family member chosen to undergo testing.

The researchers found that 86 percent of the at-risk family members chose to be tested, of which more than a quarter (26 percent) were found to carry a familial gene mutation. Six to nine months after the test results were given, no difference in psychological well-being was found between the genetic testing versus non-testing groups.

In addition, there were no differences between those who tested positive and those who tested negative in terms of depression, self-esteem and intrusive thoughts.

Women who chose to undergo genetic testing were more likely to be age 40 and older, to have relatively low levels of optimism about their cancer risk going into the test, and to report higher levels of cohesiveness in their family.

"This research seems to suggest that people cope and adapt pretty well with the decision to undergo genetic testing," said Aideen McInerney-Leo of Johns Hopkins University and a co-author of the study.

SOURCE:
National Society of Genetic Counselors (http://www.nsgc.org)

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