RISK PERCEPTION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN THE GENETIC COUNSELLING FOR HEREDITARY BREAST AND/OR OVARIAN CANCER

Background: Cancer genetic counselling allows the identification of a genetic component that increases the risk of developing a tumor. The psychological reactions are influenced by both the content of the information received, from both the subjetive perception of their own risk of becoming ill or being pruner of genetic mutation. Materials and Methods: This study included 120 participants who underwent genetic counselling for breast and/or ovarian cancer. The aim of the study was to examine the relation between the Cancer Risk Perception and the Genetic Risk during genetic counselling before testing, considering the influence of psychological variables, in particular distress, anxiety and depression. The following tools were administered during the psychological interview: Socio-demographic and Medical Characteristics Data, Cancer Risk Perception (CRP) and Genetic Risk Perception (GRP), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Distress Thermometrer (DT). Result: The data seem to confirm our hypothesis. Positive and significant correlations were found between the variables observed. Moreover, the genetic risk perception determines an increase in depressive symptomatology and the cancer risk perception determines an increase in anxious symptomatology, specifically in subjects in treatment and with children. Conclusions: The results presented suggest the importance of assessing the genetic and the cancer perception of risk, in subjects who undergo the cancer genetic counselling, to identify individuals who are at risk of a psychological well being decrease and at risk of developing greater psychological distress.