Psychological distress in women at risk of hereditary breast/ovarian or HNPCC cancers in the absence of demonstrated mutations.
OBJECTIVE
To examine psychological distress in women at risk of familial breast-ovarian cancer (FBOC) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) with absence of demonstrated mutations in the family (unknown mutation).


METHODS
Two-hundred and fifty three consecutive women at risk of FBOC and 77 at risk of HNPCC and with no present or past history of cancer. They were aware of their risk and had received genetic counseling. Comparisons were made between these two groups, normal controls, and women who were identified to be BRCA1 mutation carriers. The questionnaires Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Impact of Event Scale (IES) were employed to assess psychological distress.


RESULTS
No significant differences concerning psychological distress were observed between women with FBOC and women with HNPCC. Compared to mutation carriers for BRCA1, the level of anxiety and depression was significantly higher in the FBOC group with absence of demonstrated mutation. Compared to normal controls, the level of anxiety was higher, while the level of depression was lower in the groups with unknown mutation.


CONCLUSIONS
Women in the absence of demonstrated mutations have higher anxiety and depression levels than women with known mutation-carrier status. Access to genetic testing may be of psychologically benefit to women at risk for FBOC or HNPCC.
Geirdal
Amy Østertun
AØ
Section for Genetic Counselling, Department of Cancer Genetics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, 0310 Oslo, Norway. pal.moller@klinmed.uio.no
Reichelt
Jon G
JG
Dahl
Alv A
AA
Heimdal
Ketil
K
Maehle
Lovise
L
Stormorken
Astrid
A
Møller
Pål
P
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003123:Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological