Coping with grim news from genetic tests

Clinicians need to recognize and respond to stress response syndromes that may occur after patients have received genetic testing for inherited suscep tibility to serious diseases. For patients whose test results convey high r isk, increased attention to prevention, surveillance, and early medical tre atment may be possible, but the grim new's may also lead to a formation of symptoms ranging from extreme denial to unwelcomed intrusive ideas and feel ings. Genetic counseling alone may be insufficient for some people, and eva luation and psychotherapy for stress response syndromes may be indicated fo r them.