Adjustment to perceived ovarian cancer risk

Eighty-three women who perceived themselves to be at risk for ovarian cance r completed a battery of surveys. In addition to demographics, subjects wer e asked to complete the Brief Symptom Inventory, Multidimensional Health Lo cus of Control, Death Anxiety Scale, Taylor Anxiety Scale, Index of Sexual Satisfaction, Impact of Event Scale, and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirabi lity Scale. Overall, the respondents were more similar to normal controls t han to psychiatric outpatients. A correlation was drawn between higher leve ls of education and lower scores on the Brief Symptom Inventory, which meas ures characteristics such as somatization, obsessive compulsive behaviors, interpersonal sensitivity, and anxiety. However, those who had the highest scores on the Death Anxiety Scale were less likely to comply with the recom mendation for a physical/gynecological examination. Patients who were most influenced by an external locus of control or 'powerful other' were more co mpliant with their physicians' recommendations for testing and examination. It is the authors' belief that individualized educational efforts and the presence of a solid support system may increase women's adherence to the re commended health care practices. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.