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Exploring psychological responses to genetic testing for Lynch Syndrome within the family context.

Authors :
Eliezer D
Hadley DW
Koehly LM
Source :
Psycho-oncology [Psychooncology] 2014 Nov; Vol. 23 (11), pp. 1292-9. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 May 28.
Publication Year :
2014

Abstract

Objective: Genetic testing for hereditary cancer susceptibility syndromes is a family-centered process. Nonetheless, little research has explored how the family context affects psychological responses to genetic testing. We examine how personal test results and the test results of immediate and extended family members shape responses to genetic testing.<br />Methods: Individuals at risk of carrying a mutation associated with an inherited cancer susceptibility syndrome (Lynch syndrome) received genetic testing. Six months after receiving their results, participants reported on cancer distress, cancer worry, and depressive symptoms.<br />Results: Among mutation carriers for Lynch syndrome, the higher the proportion of carriers in their immediate family, the less cancer worry and distress they reported. In contrast, mutation carriers and non-carriers with a high proportion of carriers in their immediate family and mutation carriers with a high proportion of carriers in their extended family were at elevated risk for clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms.<br />Conclusion: Personal test results alone are not highly predictive of psychological outcomes. Instead, the interaction between personal and family test results, or in some cases, family test results alone, predict key psychological outcomes. The current research has important implications for genetic counseling and intervention efforts. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.<br /> (Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1099-1611
Volume :
23
Issue :
11
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Psycho-oncology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
24872228
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.3551