Psychologic distress in women with abnormal findings in mass mammography screening

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Abstract
BACKGROUND This study was conducted to explore the psychologic morbidity of women recalled for diagnostic assessment during population‐based mammographic screening. METHODS This study prospectively attempted to measure physical, social, and emotional well‐being by the administration of a questionnaire before screening, at the time of recall; and 1 month later to women recalled and matched women with those not recalled. RESULTS Of the 224 women who were recalled for further diagnostic assessment and their matches, complete follow‐up was obtained on 182 pairs (81.3%). In contrast to those women not recalled, recalled women exhibited increased levels of concern at the time of recall. These levels had not decreased to the initial level after 1 month, even though breast carcinoma was not diagnosed. Similar negative short term effects also were evident in the areas of physical well‐being, social functioning, and anxiety and insomnia levels, although these were not sustained. CONCLUSIONS Women with normal results after mass mammographic breast screening experienced no increase in psychologic distress and a decrease in their concern regarding breast carcinoma. However, those women who were recalled to follow‐up after abnormal findings experienced an increase in their level of concern regarding breast carcinoma and this concern was sustained, as determined by repeat questionnaire, 1 month after a negative result had been determined. Cancer 1999;85:1114–8. © 1999 American Cancer Society.