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Factors associated with an individuals’ decision to withdraw from genetic counseling for BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes mutations: are personality traits involved?

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate factors associated with early withdrawal from oncogenetic counseling. A comparison of psycho-social and personality characteristics of two samples of subjects, attendees and withdrawers was carried out. Self–report questionnaires were completed by 112 individuals who had completed counseling and to 56 individuals who withdrew from it. Individuals with few children (OR. 1,724; p = 0,017; CI = 1,101–2,700), a lower number of cancer affected relatives (OR. 1,301; p = 0,000; CI = 1,145–1,479), and with a lower hypomanic scale score (OR. 1,070; p = 0,004; CI = 1,022–1,121), were more likely to withdraw from counseling. It is important for the counselees to draw more attention to the fact that their cancer risk management and prevention is as fundamental as that of their children. Also, it is important to highlight the fact that having less cancer affected relatives does not necessarily mean being at lower risk. In conclusion, that subjects with low levels of psychological and emotional energy are those who probably need greater psychological support during the decision making process. We deem necessary that psychologists, involved in genetic counseling, investigate these aspects during their sessions in order to implement suitable interventions of psychological support during the entire counseling process.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the patients who participated in this study and the following collaborators: Tania Merlino and Paula Irene Franke for the help in language editing and Isabella Sperduti for the statistical analyses.

Conflict of interest

The authors’ declare there no financial competing interests (political, personal, religious, ideological, academic, intellectual, commercial or any other) with the study. No funding has been received for the study. The research activity has been performed during the clinical activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Training Activities and Prevention in Psycho-Oncology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy

    Anita Caruso, Cristina Vigna & Valentina Bigazzi

  2. Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Policlinico Umberto I. “La Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy

    Carlo Leone

  3. Department of Psycho-Oncology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy

    Gabriella Maggi

  4. Department of Clinical Pathology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy

    Aline Martayan

  5. Department of Oncological, Surgery Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy

    Fabio M. Sega

  6. Department of Medical Oncology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy

    Francesco Cognetti & Antonella Savarese

Authors
  1. Anita Caruso
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  2. Cristina Vigna
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  3. Valentina Bigazzi
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  4. Carlo Leone
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  5. Gabriella Maggi
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  7. Fabio M. Sega
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  8. Francesco Cognetti
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  9. Antonella Savarese
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Correspondence to Anita Caruso.

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Caruso, A., Vigna, C., Bigazzi, V. et al. Factors associated with an individuals’ decision to withdraw from genetic counseling for BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes mutations: are personality traits involved?. Familial Cancer 10, 581–589 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10689-011-9454-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10689-011-9454-x

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