Among an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse population of individuals undergoing genetic counseling and multigene panel testing for hereditary cancer risk, investigators found that psychological response corresponded to test results and demonstrated low distress and uncertainty.
This study, published in Cancer, is one of the first to demonstrate that moderate-risk pathogenic variant (PV) carriers experience outcomes similar to that of high-risk PVs without higher levels of uncertainty. These results may help to identify the various concerns of individuals undergoing panel testing and ways to support their needs.
“The overall reaction to panel testing corresponded to test results and did not show concerning levels of uncertainty or distress,” wrote the study authors, who were led by Julie O. Culver, MS. “Although PV carriers did experience more psychological distress than…
