title: Short term psychological distress in patients actively approached for genetic counselling after diagnosis of breast cancer.
abstract: This prospective study assessed anxiety, depression and breast cancer-specific distress in recently diagnosed breast cancer patients before and after an active approach for genetic counselling at the beginning of adjuvant radiotherapy (mean: 52 days after surgery). Patients completed the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and the impact of event scale (IES). Psychological distress did not increase after the approach. High anxiety decreased in the comparison group (n=182), whereas breast cancer specific distress decreased in the approached group (n=220). It is concluded that breast cancer patients can be approached for genetic counselling shortly after surgery without additional short-term psychological burden. Patients who are young, single with little social support, less optimistic, use an avoiding coping style, experience a lower quality of life or who are highly distressed prior to approach for genetic counselling, need extra attention. Medical history did not prove to be relevant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, P.O. Box 85060, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands. K.J.Schlich@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: Kathryn J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Schlich-Bakker
authors.forename: Carla C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wárlám-Rodenhuis
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Echtelt
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van den Bout
authors.forename: Margreet G E M
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ausems
authors.forename: Herman F J
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: ten Kroode
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*