title: [Cancer genetic counseling and quality of life: the effect of coping strategies and psychopathological symptoms during pre-test genetic counseling].
abstract: The cancer genetic counseling (CGC) identifies genetic mutations for hereditary neoplastic diseases, but little is known on its psychological effects on subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study involved women who underwent genetic counseling for breast or ovarian cancer: 19 unaffected, 43 current patients, and 28 past patients. The aim of the study was to examine the relation between coping strategies and the quality of life during genetic counseling before testing, considering the effects of psychopathological symptoms and the health status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that the use of avoidance strategies led to a decrease in quality of life, and that this relationship was entirely mediated by the intensity of psychopathological symptoms, while the health status did not show any effect on it.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study, which is the first in Italy, suggests the importance of assessing coping strategies in subjects who undergo the CGO to identify individuals who are at risk of decrease of psychological well-being. Indeed, psychological counselling improving coping strategies could preserve the psychological well-being of individuals.
authors.forename: Valentina Elisabetta
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Di Mattei
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duchini
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zucchi
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Patricelli
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rognone
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Pierro
authors.forename: Milvia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zambetti
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sarno
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000523:psychology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life