Distress in couples approached for genetic counseling and BRCA1/2 testing during adjuvant radiotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
Breast cancer patients mostly rely on their partners for support in dealing with their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Genetic counseling and BRCA1/2 testing during primary treatment may add to demands made on their partners. This study aimed to gain insight into the extent of psychological distress in partners of recently diagnosed patients and to find factors to help identify couples vulnerable to high psychological distress after an active approach for genetic counseling.


METHODS
Breast cancer patients and their partners (n=110) completed psychological distress measures (HADS and IES) prior to the approach for counseling (T0), after the approach (T1), and after leaving the genetic counseling protocol (T2). Couples not approached for counseling (n=85) completed similar questionnaires.


RESULTS
Partners reported an equal or lower level of distress than patients, with a positive correlation between the two, although partners and patients differed in the course of their distress. Couples approached for genetic counseling did not differ in the level or course of either distress measure from not approached couples. A high baseline distress best predicts long-term high distress in patients and their partners. Younger patients were found to be particularly vulnerable.


CONCLUSIONS
The approach for genetic counseling during adjuvant radiotherapy was not associated with extra psychological distress in partners or patients in the first year following the breast cancer diagnosis. A partner's long-term level of distress was significantly associated with that of the patient. Highly distressed patients with highly distressed partners were most likely to experience high distress in the long term.
Schlich-Bakker
Kathryn J
KJ
Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. K.J.Schlich@xmsnet.nl
ten Kroode
Herman F J
HF
Wárlám Rodenhuis
Carla C
CC
Ausems
Margreet G E M
MG
van den Bout
Jan
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D055809:Illness Behavior; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C118024:BLID protein, human; D019313:BRCA1 Protein; C492913:BRCA1 protein, human; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; C551750:BRCA2 protein, human