Premium
The Process of Family Reconstruction after DNA Testing for Huntington Disease
Author(s) -
Sobel Susan,
Cowan D. Brookes
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of genetic counseling
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1573-3599
pISSN - 1059-7700
DOI - 10.1023/a:1009416021896
Subject(s) - dna testing , genetic testing , genetic counseling , disease , psychology , test (biology) , huntington's disease , asymptomatic , family member , meaning (existential) , medicine , clinical psychology , family medicine , genetics , psychotherapist , pathology , biology , paleontology
Abstract The needs of families to reconstruct their relationships in response to the DNA testing for Huntington disease of one or more of their asymptomatic members are presented. Data were collected from family interviews with 18 families, and from their responses on a post interview questionnaire. Findings are that families need to (a) address “unfinished business” associated with the decision for testing; (b) bring family members, peripheral in the decision for testing, into the loop; (c) reorganize patterns of communication and roles altered by the testing and heal ruptures in family membership; and (d) revise family stories about illness to provide a meaning for HD and explain the test results in a way that leaves them with a sense of mastery. Findings suggest that families should be more involved in the initial decision for testing of a member and that protocols should be established to provide help for their ongoing adjustment.