The new genetics: Psychological responses to genetic testing

If little can be offered, most people do not want information about their risk status. [...]the uptake for DNA predictive testing is about 10% for Huntington's disease, for which there is no treatment 3 4 ; for breast cancer, for which there is some possibility of prevention and treatment, it is about 50% 5 ; and it is around 80% for familial adenomatous polyposis, for which there is effective treatment. 6 Uptake of genetic tests also depends on how a test is offered. 3 Women are more likely than men to undergo carrier tests, 8 presymptomatic tests, 11 and predispositional tests. 6 This may be because of differences in their knowledge about health threats and a difference in the way they cope with adverse information about their health, with men being more likely than women to engage in minimisation. 11 12 Societal and cultural factors are also important. [...]while uptake rates in the United States and Britain are similar for Huntington's disease and breast cancer, rates for cystic fibrosis are lower in the United States. 3-5 7 8 This may reflect a more negative attitude to termination of pregnancy as well as greater concern about insurance.