Participants were recruited from all consecutive patients referred to the Cancer Genetic Program at the Hospital Universitari i Politècnic la Fe.

At the initial genetic consultation patients are informed about hereditary cancer risk and the genetic testing process. At the second genetic counseling appointment, after patients done tests, all participants were informed about the study purpose, and they signed the informed consent before the psychometric assessment. Those patients who agreed to participate, they were given the questionnaires to fill in. Also, background characteristics were reported including age, marital relationship, level of education, psychiatric antecedents.

The time for completion the self-report measures was about 10 minutes. The psychometric assessment was occurred prior to delivering the results of genetic testing.

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), it is consisting of two subscales with seven items respectively, anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D) symptomatology. The questionnaire is used to evaluate psychological distress in non-psychiatric settings. In general medical outpatients the optimal cut-off point for the screening for psychiatric morbidity seems to be 12, for screening depressive symptomatology seems to be 5 score and 8 (range 7-10) for screening anxiety symptomatology. In Spanish population the HADS demonstrated a good internal consistency and optimal psychometric properties.

Cancer Worry Scale. (CWS), consists of the six-item scale measures concerns about developing cancer, and the impact of these concerns on performing daily tasks among patients at risk for hereditary cancer. The questionnaire are rated on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from "never" to "almost always", with a total value ranging from 6 (minimal worry) to 24 (maximum worry). CWS presented good reliability coefficient in Spanish samples at risk for hereditary cancer.

The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), measures psychological distress, which is consisting of social functioning, somatic symptoms, anxiety/sleep disturbances, and depression. Each item was scored from 0 to 3. Higher scores indicating greater psychological morbidity, with a cutting score of 5/6 to identify psychiatric morbidity. The Spanish version of the GHQ-28 had adequate psychometric properties.

Psychometric questionnaire. Hospital Anxiety and Depresion Scale (HADS) , it is consisting of two subscales with seven items respectively, anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D) symptomatology. The questionnaire is used to evaluate psychological distress in non-psychiatric settings. The optimal cut-off point for screening psychiatric morbidity seems to be 12, for screening depressive symptomatology seems to be 5 score and 8 (range 7-10) score for screening anxiety symptomatology. In Spanish population the HADS demonstrated a good internal consistency and optimal psychometric properties.