Psychosocial Impact of Prostate Cancer Screening for BRCA1/2 Carriers

What is it about?

In the IMPACT study, researchers investigated the long-term psychosocial outcomes of targeted prostate cancer screening in individuals with known genetic predispositions to the disease. They found that individuals at higher risk of prostate cancer undergoing screening do not experience clinically concerning levels of distress or poor health-related quality of life. However, they did observe a slightly higher level of prostate-specific anxiety in BRCA2 carriers who had previously high PSA levels.

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Why is it important?

This research is important because it provides the first longitudinal evaluation of the psychosocial impact of prostate cancer (PrCa) screening in individuals at higher risk due to inherited genetic predisposition to PrCa. The results show that individuals undergoing targeted annual PrCa screening do not experience clinically concerning levels of anxiety, depression, or poor health-related quality of life outcomes over time. This study is crucial for healthcare professionals counseling individuals at higher risk, as it provides insights into the psychological impact of screening and highlights the need for psychosocial support. Key Takeaways: 1. The study is the first to report longitudinal psychosocial and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes in individuals with germline pathogenic variants (GPVs) in BRCA1/BRCA2 undergoing a targeted annual PrCa screening program. 2. The results show that individuals undergoing targeted annual PrCa screening do not experience clinically concerning levels of anxiety, depression, or poor HRQoL outcomes over time. 3. There is a slightly higher level of PrCa- and PSA-specific distress in BRCA2 carriers who had previously high PSA levels, indicating the need for psychosocial support for such individuals at future screening rounds. 4. The study is important for healthcare professionals counseling individuals at higher risk, providing insights into the psychological impact of screening and highlighting the need for psychosocial support.