RESUMO
Presymptomatic testing for spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) in Cuba started five yearsago. We have now investigated the psychological impact of test results on 150 individuals at5O percent risk for SCA2. In a prospective study, psychological instruments were used to evaluatedepression, anxiety and family functioning (1) before testing and (2) one year after disclosureof the test result. One year after, anxiety and depression levels decreased both in carriersand non-carriers, but anxiety decreased significantly more in carriers. Pathological levelsof anxiety were seen mostly in members of dysfunctional families, but decreased more inthem than in other consultands. Presymptomatic testing thus seems to have been especiallybeneficial for these testees, possibly due to a greater gain from the psychosocial supportreceived. It would be pertinent to evaluate now the impact of other psychosocial variablesand perform longer-term longitudinal studies...(AU)
Assuntos
Humanos , Ataxias Espinocerebelares , DepressãoRESUMO
Presymptomatic testing for spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) in Cuba started five years ago. We have now investigated the psychological impact of test results on 150 individuals at 50% risk for SCA2. In a prospective study, psychological instruments were used to evaluate depression, anxiety and family functioning (1) before testing and (2) one year after disclosure of the test result. One year after, anxiety and depression levels decreased both in carriers and non-carriers, but anxiety decreased significantly more in carriers. Pathological levels of anxiety were seen mostly in members of dysfunctional families, but decreased more in them than in other consultands. Presymptomatic testing thus seems to have been especially beneficial for these testees, possibly due to a greater gain from the psychosocial support received. It would be pertinent to evaluate now the impact of other psychosocial variables and perform longer-term longitudinal studies.