Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
Published on: January 17, 2025
Anxiety and borderline PAP smear results
Ida J Korfage1, Marjolein van Ballegooijen, Hans Huveneers
1Dept. of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Room Ae-108, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. i.korfage@erasmusmc.nl
Purpose:
Low-grade abnormalities after cervical cancer screening, i.e. borderline (Pap 2) or mildly (Pap 3a1) dyskaryotic (BMD) smear results, are found in considerable numbers of women annually. We compared quality of life and anxiety in women with BMD and a reference group of screening participants who were awaiting smear taking.
Methods:
Five hundred and fifty women with BMD in the preceding 6-24 months, identified through a regional screening organisation, were sent a questionnaire addressing generic quality of life (12-item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-12], EuroQol classification [EQ-5D]), generic anxiety (STAI-6) and screen-specific anxiety (Psychological Consequences Questionnaire [PCQ]).
Results:
After adjustment for differences in background characteristics, women with BMD (n=270) reported more generic anxiety (44.4 versus 32.6) and screen-specific anxiety (5.0 versus 1.4) than the reference group (n=352). The differences indicated statistical (p<0.001) and clinical significance. High anxiety (STAI-6>44) was reported by 49% of the BMD group. Mental quality of life was worse in the BMD than in the reference group (44.2 versus 52.0, p<0.001). The BMD group considered screening more often frightening (27% versus 10%) and reported 'fear for cervical cancer' more frequently as their reason for having a (repeat) smear taken (62/270, 23% versus 12/346, 4%).
Conclusion/Discussion:
BMD smears were consistently associated with considerable excess anxiety in the period of 6-24 months after the original BMD Pap smears had been taken.
Related Concept Videos
Borderline Personality Disorder
Genetic and Environmental Contributions
Borderline Personality...
Anxiety: Overview
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Panic Disorder
SBAR II: Application of SBAR
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...