Psychological impact of genetic counselling and testing in women previously diagnosed with breast cancer

Background: The recent discovery of susceptibility genes relating to breast cancer, BRCA1 and BRCA2, now allows women with breast cancer and a family history of breast/ovarian cancer to undergo genetic testing to identify a c ausative germ-line mutation. The present study assessed the psychological s tatus over time of women affected by breast cancer requesting,genetic testi ng (cases; n=32) compared with matched controls (n=28). Methods: Subjects were recruited through two Sydney-based hospitals. Data w ere collected via questionnaire and telephone interview at baseline, and 2 weeks and 3-6 months following counselling. Results: Genetic test results were not received by the subjects within the study period. Cases showed a greater increase in knowledge of cancer geneti cs following counselling compared with controls, and this was maintained ov er time. Psychological symptoms remained stable over the study period and t here were no differences between groups. Conclusions: Increased knowledge following genetic counselling was not acco mpanied by an increase in anxiety or depression. Further assessment will be required in the long term to determine the psychological impact of receivi ng a genetic test result.