Psychological functioning of women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations — the literature review

Abstract

BRCA1 (breast cancer 1) and BRCA2 (breast cancer 2) gene mutations significantly increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Among women with BRCA1 gene mutation, the lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 64–87%, and the lifetime risk of ovarian cancer is about 15–60%. Women who inherit BRCA2 gene mutation, have a little smaller lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. In our literature review we analyzed the results of foreign research concerning psychological functioning of women undergoing BRCA genetic testing. Our aim is to check if the result of such genetic test influences the general distress level, cancer-related worry, state anxiety, depression, positive and negative mood. We analyzed the results of 9 research published between 1997 and 2013. The results regarding to the characteristics mentioned above are ambiguous or even contradictory, so we do not have certainty, if the information of carrying a BRCA gene mutation increases the level of anxiety, distress, depression and negative mood, or on the contrary — brings relief, reassurance and motivation to future treatment. Because of the increasing number of women undergoing genetic testing, it is worth learning, how do women respond to positive or negative genetic test result. It is also important to demystify supposedly negative influence of such examination on mental and emotional functioning of women, and create individualized methods of psychological counselling, dedicated to mutation carriers and their families. Such methods would improve their psychological resources and help them cope well with such life-changing information.