Short-term psychological impact of predictive testing for Machado-Joseph disease: depression and anxiety levels in individuals at risk from the Azores (Portugal).
OBJECTIVE
The short-term impact of the pre-symptomatic genetic test (PT) for Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) in the Azores (Portuguese Islands) was assessed in 46 individuals at risk who completed the PT Program.


METHODS
Scores for depression and anxiety were used as indicators of the subjects' emotional status immediately before the PT and 1 year after disclosure of the results.


RESULTS
Global levels of participation in the Azorean PT Program for MJD were high (20.7%), particularly in Flores Island (35.8%). For the total sample, mean scores of depression and anxiety before and after the PT presented without clinical significance. No differences were found for depression and anxiety scores before and after the PT. Furthermore, when grouped by test results (carriers/non-carriers), there were no differences between pre- and post-test levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that the test result did not cause a decrease in the psychological well-being of the individuals tested. The high number of participants performing the PT in the small and isolated community of Flores Island, where MJD represents a source of stigma, was interpreted as an indication that in this particular population the PT offers the individuals at risk the possibility of liberating from a stigma, and, hence, from exclusion.
Gonzalez
Carlos
C
Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of Divino Espirito Santo, Ponta Delgada, Portugal.
Lima
Manuela
M
Kay
Teresa
T
Silva
Catarina
C
Santos
Cristina
C
Santos
Jorge
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001394:Azores / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D017827:Machado-Joseph Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric