Affiliations: Unit of Medical Genetics, The Norwegian Radium
Hospital, University of Oslo, 0310 Oslo, Norway | Department of Psychiatry, Aker Hospital, University of
Oslo, 0320 Oslo, Norway
Note: [] Corresponding author: Dr. Jon G. Reichelt, MD, Section of
Medical Genetics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Montebello, 0310 Oslo, Norway,
Tel.: +47 22934000; Fax: +47 22935219; E-mail: jon.reichelt@klinmed.uio.no
Abstract: 232 family members from 27 Norwegian families with BRCAl mutations
were offered genetic testing. 180/232 (78%) chose to be tested,
14/232 (6%) have not yet decided and 38/232 (16%) declined. All 232
persons were invited to fill in the following questionnaires when offered
testing: Impact of Event Scale (IES), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
(HADS), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and Beck Hopelessness Scale
(BHS). 207/232 (89%) responded to the questionnaires. Of
those declining to be tested 23/38 (61%) answered the questionnaires compared
to 170/180 (94%) of those wanting the test (p < 0.0001). A higher
proportion of females with a history of cancer than females without such a
history had abnormal scores on the IES-intrusion and GHQ questionnaires
(p < 0.001). Healthy females who were deciding on
predictive testing had the same or lower prevalence of mental distress compared
to the general population, between 4.3% and 18.0% as measured by the different
questionnaires. Males did not differ from healthy females on any of
the measures. According to their HADS scores, women without a history of cancer
deciding on predictive testing for breast-ovarian cancer had lower or equal
levels of mental distress compared to the general population. The high uptake
of genetic testing combined with the lower than normal prevalence of mental
distress indicates that the activity may continue as practised, awaiting
longitudinal data concerning the levels of mental distress after genetic
testing.
Journal: Disease Markers, vol. 15, no. 1-3, pp. 139-143, 1999
