title: Reducing Psychological Distress in a Genetic Counseling Consultation for Breast Cancer.
abstract: High levels of cancer specific distress have been found before and after genetic counseling for breast cancer. This study investigated the process of reducing distress during 111 genetic counseling consultations for familial breast cancer. Consultations were audiotaped, transcribed, and a detailed coding system developed to measure cues of emotional distress from the patient, and consultant (clinical geneticist or genetic counselor) behaviors before and after the cues. At least 1 emotional cue was given in 64 consultations, with a median of 1 cue per consultation. More emotional cues of distress occurred when the consultant responded empathetically to the first cue of distress. Satisfaction outcomes were largely positive regardless of the consultant's attentiveness to distress. Postconsultation depression scores were significantly reduced if more empathic responses were given, but anxiety remained the same. These results are discussed and recommendations are made for improving patient care.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology Unit, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Vlatka
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Duric
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Butow
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sharpe
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lobb
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meiser
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barratt
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tucker