Counselling at a colposcopy clinic and the emotional well-being of women with a positive smear

Abstract

Summary This prospective random allocation study of 59 consecutive women assessed whether counselling provided at the colposcopy clinic modified the level of anxiety and depression associated with positive smear. The results show a high level of anxiety in this group of women, both counselled (P < 0.001) and not counselled (P < 0.001), when compared with a sample of normal working females, aged between 19 and 39 years. Although the counselled group appeared to be less anxious and less depressed comparison of state and trait anxiety and depression scores between the counselled and not counselled groups did not demonstrate any differences. The findings reinforce concern regarding the potential adverse psychological effect that discovery of an abnormal smear may have on a woman's emotional well-being. A review of a counselling intervention programme relating to its place, timing and content is proposed.