Psychological effects of false-positive results in cystic fibrosis newborn screening: a two-year follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate parental stress after a false-positive result at the time of the cystic fibrosis (CF) newborn screening (NBS), attributable to heterozygotism or persistent hypertrypsinemia.


METHODS
A prospective study was conducted in 86 French families at 3, 12, and 24 months after NBS. A psychologist conducted interviews with a questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Vulnerable Child Scale.


RESULTS
Overall, 96.5% of parents said they had been anxious at the time of the sweat test. However, 86% felt entirely reassured 3 months after the test. The mean Perceived Stress Scale score did not differ from that observed in the French population. Mean Vulnerable Child Scale scores were high, associated with a low Parental Perception of Child Vulnerability. These results did not differ significantly at 1 and 2 years. In total, 86% to 100% of families no longer worried about CF. All parents stated that they would have the test performed again for another child.


CONCLUSIONS
CF NBS can lead to false-positive results, causing parental anxiety, which quickly decreases after a sweat test performed soon after the phone call.
Beucher
Julie
J
CF Center University Hospital, Rennes, France.
Leray
Emmanuelle
E
Deneuville
Eric
E
Roblin
Monique
M
Pin
Isabelle
I
Bremont
François
F
Turck
Dominique
D
Giniès
Jean-Louis
JL
Foucaud
Pascal
P
Rault
Gilles
G
Derelle
Jocelyne
J
David
Valérie
V
Journel
Hubert
H
Marchand
Sophie
S
Veillard
David
D
Roussey
Michel
M
D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000235:genetics; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D013542:Sweat / Q000737:chemistry; D014357:Trypsin / Q000097:blood
D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; D014357:Trypsin