Psychologic distress in women with abnormal findings in mass mammography screening

BACKGROUND, This study was conducted to explore the psychologic morbidity o f women recalled for diagnostic assessment during population-based mammogra phic screening. METHODS. This study prospectively attempted to measure physical, social, an d emotional well-being by the administration of a questionnaire before scre ening, at the time of recall; and 1 month later to women recalled and match ed women with those not recalled. RESULTS. Of the 224 women who were recalled for further diagnostic assessme nt and their matches, complete follow-up was obtained on 182 pairs (81.3%). In contrast to those women not recalled, recalled women exhibited increase d levels of concern at the time of recall. These levels had not decreased t o the initial level after I month, el en though breast carcinoma was not di agnosed. Similar negative short term effects also were evident in the areas of physical well-being, social functioning, and anxiety and insomnia level s, although these were not sustained. CONCLUSIONS. Women with normal results after mass mammographic breast scree ning experienced no increase in psychologic distress and a decrease in thei r concern regarding breast carcinoma. However, those women who were recalle d to follow-up after abnormal findings experienced an increase in their lev el of concern regarding breast carcinoma and this concern was sustained, as determined by repeat questionnaire, 1 month after a negative result had be en determined. Cancer 1999;85:1114-8. (C) 1999 American Cancer Society.