Psychological responses to prenatal NTS counseling and the uptake of invasive testing in women of advanced maternal age

Abstract

This study examines women’s psychological responses to prenatal group genetic counseling, and to subsequent individualized risk counseling. All women ( N=123) aged 35 and older underwent nuchal translucency screening (NTS), a prenatal ultrasound screening test. After group counseling, decisional conflict decreased significantly among those reporting at baseline having made a decision about invasive testing ( t(222)=2.00, P=0.014) and for those who were uncertain ( t(222)=5.74, P<0.0005). After receiving NT-adjusted risks, decisional conflict decreased further for those uncertain about testing at baseline ( t(222)=4.64, P<0.0005). There was no change in risk perception and anxiety after group counseling. After NT-adjusted risks were communicated, risk perception decreased significantly ( t(230)=5.02, P<0.0005), as did anxiety ( t(115)=7.91, P<0.005). Despite reassuring NTS results, the uptake rate for prenatal invasive testing was 78.4%. Risk perception, anxiety, and decisional conflict decreased after individual counseling for reassuring NTS results, but the uptake of invasive testing remained high.