Psychotherapy with a woman at high risk for developing breast cancer

M J Massie; P R Muskin; D E Stewart

doi:10.1016/s0163-8343(98)00014-0

Psychotherapy with a woman at high risk for developing breast cancer

Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 1998 May;20(3):189-97. doi: 10.1016/s0163-8343(98)00014-0.

Authors

M J Massie¹, P R Muskin, D E Stewart

Affiliation

¹ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.

PMID: 9650038
DOI: 10.1016/s0163-8343(98)00014-0

Abstract

Women who are at high risk for developing breast cancer increasingly consult with psychiatrists about the psychological, social, and sexual consequences of genetic testing and risk-reducing surgeries such as bilateral mastectomy and oophorectomy. The 9-year psychotherapy with a woman who had bilateral mastectomy because of her family history of breast cancer and who later tested negative for BRCA1 is described and discussed.

Publication types

Case Reports
Clinical Conference

MeSH terms

Adult
Attitude to Death
Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis
Breast Neoplasms / genetics
Breast Neoplasms / prevention & control*
Breast Neoplasms / psychology*
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods*
Female
Genes, BRCA1
Genetic Testing / psychology
Humans
Life Change Events
Mammaplasty / psychology*
Mastectomy, Simple / psychology
Medical History Taking
Physician-Patient Relations
Pregnancy