Psychological Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment: Anxiety, Depression and Distress in an Italian Sample

Abstract

Purpose: Evaluating whether and how anxious and depressive symptoms change from prior to Oncological Genetic Counseling (OGC) to one month following BRCA genetic test result. Short-term psychological impact of genetic test disclosure in an Italian sample was also assessed. Methods: 106 Italian natives completed Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADs) both before accessing OGC (t1) and one month following their test result (t2). In t2 they also completed the Italian translation of Multidimensional Cancer Risk Assessment (MICRA). Results: An overall reduction of HADs scores over time in BRCA-carriers was observed. Higher distress median values (MICRA) were found in carriers than non-carriers. Discussion: In carriers, the simultaneous presence of both a reduction of anxiety/depression and a greater distress should be explained basing on Post- Traumatic-Growth studies in cancer patients. Being a carrier may represent an explanation for cancer disease, and allow patients to access specific riskreduction programs.