Impact on BRCA1/2 Testing on Marital Relationships

Abstract : The proposed study is a prospective longitudinal examination of the impact of genetic testing for breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility on the marital relationships of women at risk as well as the impact upon the quality of life of their husbands. This study is a companion proposal to an ongoing, DOD-funded prospective study that is evaluating the outcomes of genetic testing for breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility on individuals from hereditary breast cancer families. The proposed study extends the ongoing DOD-funded study to examine the impact of genetic testing upon the marital relationship and the psychosocial impact on the spouse. Specific aims of the study are: 1) to evaluate the short- and long-term impact of BRCA 1/2 testing on psychological distress (both general and cancer-specific) of spouses of participants in genetic testing programs; 2) to evaluate the short- and long-term impact of BRCA 1/2 testing on the marital relationships of participants and spouses, and examine whether marital satisfaction is an early predictor of psychological morbidity among participants in genetic testing programs and their spouses; 3) to examine the association between spouse responses during the testing process and carriers' distress post-notification. Women and their husbands will complete measures of general and cancer-specific distress, marital satisfaction, and marital strain imposed by the testing process.