Journal of Genetic Medicine

Korean Society of Medical Genetics and Genomics (대한의학유전학회)
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Psychological effects and risk perception after genetic counseling

  • Shin, Sunghwan (Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Ryu, Mi Ra (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Green Cross Laboratories) ;
  • Kwon, Won Kyung (Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Suhee (Outpatient Nursing Team, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Jang, Ja-Hyun (Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Jong-Won (Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine)
  • Received : 2021.05.14
  • Accepted : 2021.06.07
  • Published : 2021.06.30
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Abstract

Purpose: Demand for genetic counseling on cancer predisposition syndrome is increasing. We evaluated the psychological effect on counselees after genetic counseling at a clinic in a single center. Materials and Methods: We surveyed a total of 72 enrolled participants who visited a genetic counseling clinic at the Samsung Medical Center (SMC). The initial survey was conducted before the first genetic counseling session, and the second survey was conducted after the second genetic counseling session. A total of 43 participants completed both the initial and second surveys. Results: The initial survey of 72 participants indicated higher feelings of guilt in the group with religion, higher depression and anxiety in the group with a diagnosis of self, and higher anxiety in the group on self-referral to the genetic counseling clinic. In the completed survey of 43 participants, overall decreased depression was observed after the second genetic counseling session (P=0.013). Risk perception and anxiety decreased in the group diagnosed with benign variant/variant of uncertain significance (BV/VUS, 25/3) and increased in the group diagnosed with pathogenic variant (PV, 15). Risk perception and anxiety differed between the BV/VUS and PV groups (P<0.001 and P=0.03, respectively). Conclusion: The genetic counseling clinic at the SMC was effective in ameliorating the depression score. Assessment of survey results revealed different depression scores, feelings of guilt and anxiety, and different effects of the genetic counseling clinic, depending on the subgroups. Understanding the needs and psychological characteristics of different groups is necessary for improving genetic counseling services.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (No.2019R1A2C2002177).

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