Psychosocial factors influence colorectal cancer (CRC) genetic testing decisions and risk management strategies. Psychosocial research on hereditary CRC has focused on understanding individuals’ motivations and decisions regarding genetic testing, the psychological impact of genetic risk notification, the effects on family and interpersonal relationships, and factors influencing the uptake of risk reduction options (e.g., screening, risk-reducing surgery, or chemoprevention). Overall, the literature on psychosocial aspects of hereditary CRC suggest that despite initial fears, negative psychological impacts of genetic testing are often absent or modest, and adverse impacts, if observed, are short-lived. Due to the shared familial nature of genetic information, patients utilizing CRC genetic testing also experience novel psychosocial challenges in terms of family communication and childbearing. Positive psychosocial benefits such as relief from uncertainty and satisfaction of curiosity have been less frequently examined. Psychosocial outcomes vary across types of genetic testing, test results, gene penetrance and associated cancer risks, and various clinical and personal factors. For example, the psychosocial outcomes in response to an uncertain test result from a moderate-penetrance CRC-related gene may be different from a negative test result in a high-penetrance gene. This suggests that generalizing psychosocial outcomes from the various areas of scholarship may be unwise. Psychosocial aspects of genetic testing deserve attention by researchers and clinicians to design and deliver tailored genetic and psychological counseling support services geared to the ongoing needs of patients and their relatives who face genetic risk for colorectal cancer.
