PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN WOMEN SEEKING GENETIC-COUNSELING FOR BREAST-OVARIAN CANCER RISK - THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF PERSONALITY AND APPRAISAL

The purpose of the present study was two-fold: (a) to characterize the psychological status of women with a family history of breast or ovar ian cancer who self-refer for genetic counseling and BRCA1 testing; an d (b) to identify specific demographic, personality and appraisal fact ors that contribute to cancer-specific distress and general distress i n this group of women. Participants were 256 women ages 18 and older w ho had at least one first-degree relative (FDR) with breast and/or ova rian cancer: Participants were recruited through breast cancer clinics and obstetrics/gynecology departments at two medical centers by respo nding to program information described in a brochure. The results reve aled moderate distress levels in this population. The results of a hie rarchical regression of general distress indicated that women with hig her levels of general distress were less likely to be married, less op timistic, and had heightened breast cancer risk perceptions accompanie d by feelings of low perceptions of control over the development of br east cancer (R-2 = .44, p = .0001). Women with higher levels of cancer -specific distress tended to be younger and non-White and had low perc eptions of control over developing breast cancer (R-2 = .15, p = .0002 ). These findings suggest that self-referred genetic counseling partic ipants may be psychologically vulnerable and may benefit from interven tions designed to decrease distress and the perceived absence of contr ol over developing breast cancer.