Psychological distress in healthy women with familial breast cancer: Like mother, like daughter?

Objective: In 1977, the Israel Cancer Association held a one-day conference , on the subject of familial breast cancer, for healthy women with at least one first-degree relative diagnosed with breast cancer. The objective of t his study was to assess the psychological distress of a sample of the women who attended. Method: Of the 333 healthy women present at the conference, 230 completed three questionnaires: one on sociodemographic data and the me dical history of the first-degree relative(s) (mother and/or sister), and t wo that measure psychological distress: the Brief Symptom Inventory and the Impact of Events Scale. Sample: The subjects were divided into three categ orical groups: those whose mother had breast cancer (group A, N = 176), tho se whose sister had breast cancer (group B, N = 34), and those whose mother and sister both had the disease (group C, N = 20). In addition, subjects w ere divided into two groups according to the psychological distress level. Results: Analysis of results (using ANOVA and a Chi square test for categor ical variables and both univariate and multivariate procedures for psycholo gical distress assessment) showed elevated levels of distress and persisten t intrusive thoughts in all groups, and particularly in group C. Conclusion : There is a need to promote genetic diagnostic and appropriate counseling, notwithstanding the potential risks that genetic counseling poses for such women.