Coping with Genetic Risk for Breast and Ovarian Cancer

This study will examine the efficacy of brief, nurse-delivered counseling intervention, Stress Inoculation Therapy (SIT), on the enhancement of psychological adjustment to the receipt of genetic cancer risk information, on the improvement of comprehension of genetic risk, and on the promotion of adherence to follow-up prevention recommendations. In addition, we will assess how coping style disposition moderates the effects of the intervention. Outcome measures will include both general psychological adjustment as well as risk-specific distress. The availability of DNA markers for the BRCA1 gene will allow us to compare risk assignment based on clinical parameter with that provided by genetic testing to determine if family history can serve as a tool to select appropriate candidates for genetic screening in the future. The proposed study provides a unique opportunity to develop and test among women of different socioeconomic and ethnic groups a relatively brief psychoeducational counseling intervention which could have a significant public health impact on cancer control. (Member of CGSC)