False-positive findings in mammography screening induces short-term distress - breast cancer-specific concern prevails longer.
The aim of this study was to examine psychological distress in a mammography screening process as a consequence of screening after adjusting for background, personality and prescreening distress. Subjects, aged 50 years, were invitees at their first screening. There were three groups; normal findings (n=1407), false-positive findings (n=492) and referents from outside the screening programme (n=1718, age 48-49 years). Distress was measured as illness worry, anxiety, depression, cancer beliefs and early detection behaviour. Measurements were one month before screening invitation with follow-ups at 2 and 12 months postscreening. At 2 months, there was a moderate multivariate effect of group on distress; and intrusive thinking and worry about breast cancer, in particular, were most frequent amongst the false positives. Intrusive thinking still prevailed at 12 months, in addition to a higher perceived breast cancer risk and susceptibility. Distress related to screening and false-positive findings seems to be moderate, but prevailing cancer-specific concerns call for improvements in screening programmes.
Aro
A R
AR
Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, FIN-00300, Helsinki, Finland. arja.aro@ktl.fi
Pilvikki Absetz
S
S
van Elderen
T M
TM
van der Ploeg
E
E
van der Kamp
L J
LJ
D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors