Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer A Multidisciplinary Approach

Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Approach, Chieti, 15 giugno 2018 HBOC Genetic Counseling: major concerns and communication skills Nicola Mammarella Department of Psychological Sciences, Health and Territory, University of Chieti, Italy n. mammarella@unich. it

Genetic testing affects both the individual and the entire family (Peterson et al. , 2003) and can be defined as a CHALLENGING DECISION-MAKING ENVIRONMENT

The psychological impact of genetic testing Distress SHORT-TERM LONG-TERM Anxiety Depression

A two-tiered approach to identifying individuals experiencing or at risk for experiencing heightened distress related to genetic counseling and testing:

Administration of a set of screening questions by the psychologist included during the first counseling meeting. Have you got mental health problems? How would you react to and manage the risk of getting cancer ? (from very good to very bad)

Individuals meet with a psychologist who is a member of the team

The question of what type and level of support could reduce psychological burdens on patients undergoing genetic counseling and testing or making subsequent decisions about screening or prophylactic surgery is crucial.

Multiple dimensions of family functioning and the reciprocal nature of family relationships (Peterson, 2005).

Breast and ovarian cancer in aging • Presenting complex material to people who have limited knowledge and possibly declining cognitive function is a challenge… • Older women show a typical more passive role in decision making regarding health problems. This means that they lack a number of strategies to support this process (joint decision, network decision).

Breast and ovarian cancer in aging Affect is a crucial variable during decision making: in particulars, older adults when facing with complex information, rely on affective cues rather than a careful consideration of the advantages and disadvantages to a particular decision.

Older participants were more likely than younger to share genetic test results with family members. Older individuals may be more inclined to feel a responsibility to inform family members about cancer risk due to generativity (Ashida & Schafer, 2015).

Per concludere…