Psychological impact of islet cell-antibody screening. Preliminary results

The identification of at-risk individuals before the onset of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with islet cell-antibody (ICA) screening programs could have significant psychological sequelae. We initiated a descriptive study of ICA+ subjects and their family members in which reactions to study participation, anxiety, and coping responses are monitored. Described here are preliminary results from 18 ICA+ youngsters, 6 ICA+ adults, and their family members. ICA+ identification resulted in clinically significant anxiety that dissipated to normal levels over time for all participants. Both ICA+ subjects and family members coped with the news in similar ways, relying primarily on problem-focused and social-support coping strategies. Few blamed themselves for their own or their loved one's ICA+ status. There was some evidence that the ICA+ participants may minimize the potential impact of their at-risk status. Compared with family members, ICA+ subjects used more avoidance coping strategies, and few believed they would ever develop diabetes. In contrast, many family members believed their loved one would ultimately develop diabetes. Although the initial findings support the resiliency of this population, the long-term effects of ICA screening remain to be seen.