Anxiety related to genetic testing for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and cystic fibrosis in COPD and/or bronchiectasis patients.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the psychological reaction to information about diagnostic genetic testing for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (Alpha-1) and cystic fibrosis (CF) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and/or bronchiectasis patients who were tested but did not know the results.


METHODS
One hundred and three adults took the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory before and after a standardized educational intervention and responded to a questionnaire.


RESULTS
Information about the limitations, risks and benefits of Alpha-1 and CF testing did not raise mean anxiety levels. Mean anxiety was slightly lower after the educational intervention than at baseline (mean pretest score 35.0, posttest score 33.7; p < 0.05). Participants whose physician preinformed them of genetic testing had slightly higher mean anxiety than other participants, both before and after the intervention, but scores were comparable to those in a normative sample of general medical and surgical patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Disclosure of information regarding Alpha-1 and CF testing appears to be potentially acceptable to patients and unlikely to prevent clinicians from conducting useful diagnostic procedures. This study is a step in alleviating concerns about raising issues related to genetic testing for Alpha-1 and CF in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients during the informed consent process.
Coors
Marilyn E
ME
University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colo. 80262, USA. marilyn.coors@uchsc.edu
Levinson
Arnold H
AH
Huitt
Gwen A
GA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000523:psychology; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology