Subjective Cognitive Concerns and Attitudes toward Genetic Testing Are Associated with Depressive Symptoms and Quality of Life after Genetic Testing for the Cerebral Cavernous Malformation Common Hispanic Mutation (CCM1)
Open Access
- 1 January 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Scientific Research Publishing, Inc. in Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science
- Vol. 10 (02), 118-127
- https://doi.org/10.4236/jbbs.2020.102007
Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to characterize mood and quality of life and to examine the associations of these areas with subjective cognitive concerns and attitudes toward genetic testing for the Common Hispanic Mutation, a gene that has been associated with increased risk for CCM1. Method: Fifty-four adults with previous genetic testing for the Common Hispanic Mutation completed a mail survey that included assessments of the above identified areas. Results: Self-reported depressive symptoms and quality of life did not differ between those with positive and negative genetic test results. The negative group expressed a more favorable attitude toward genetic testing (p p = 0.06). Using generalized linear regression, more subjective cognitive concerns were associated with poorer quality of life and more depressive symptoms (p p < 0.05). Conclusions: Subjective cognitive concerns and negative attitudes toward genetic testing may influence emotional well-being after genetic testing for the Common Hispanic Mutation. Additional research is needed that uses objective neuropsychological measures to understand the associations of subjective cognitive concerns, emotional well-being, and cognitive test performance in individuals with CCM1. There is also a need for research that focuses on protective factors and resiliency following genetic testing for CCM1 and the development of mental health interventions to preempt psychosocial difficulties.Keywords
This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit:
- Age of major depression onset, depressive symptoms, and risk for subsequent dementia: results of the German Study on Ageing, Cognition, and Dementia in Primary Care Patients (AgeCoDe)Psychological Medicine, 2012
- Health Behavior Changes After Genetic Risk Assessment for Alzheimer Disease: The REVEAL StudyAlzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders, 2008
- The presence and clinical implications of depression in a community population of adults with epilepsyEpilepsy & Behavior, 2006
- Socioeconomic status, depression disparities, and financial strain: what lies behind the income‐depression relationship?Health Economics, 2005
- Reasons for Seeking Genetic Susceptibility Testing Among First-Degree Relatives of People With Alzheimer DiseaseAlzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders, 2003
- Psychological impact of genetic testing for Huntington's disease: an update of the literatureJournal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 2000
- The Natural History of Cavernous Malformations: A Prospective Study of 68 PatientsNeurosurgery, 1999
- A Founder Mutation as a Cause of Cerebral Cavernous Malformation in Hispanic AmericansThe New England Journal of Medicine, 1996
- Patient Satisfaction with Health Care DecisionsMedical Decision Making, 1996
- The Psychological Consequences of Predictive Testing for Huntington’s DiseaseThe New England Journal of Medicine, 1992