Carrier testing in the fragile X syndrome: attitudes and opinions of obligate carriers.

This study surveyed obligate carriers of the fragile X syndrome fra(X) to ascertain opinions and attitudes regarding carrier testing. Female carriers of fra(X) syndrome were recruited during their visits to the Fragile X Clinic at Duke University Medical Center. Twenty-eight obligate carriers completed a 48 question structured interview and a visual analog scale (VAS). Strong trends in the responses were identified. Fra(X) syndrome was viewed as a very serious problem and the risk to offspring high. Subjects reported that prior knowledge of carrier status would have changed their reproductive plans. All felt that relatives should be informed about the inheritance of fra(X) syndrome; the mean age given for preferred age to inform their children of the inheritance of fra(X) syndrome was 12 years, and mean age given for optimal timing of carrier testing was 10 years. The women interviewed indicated that growing up with knowledge of their carrier status would have been preferable to learning this information as adults and they endorsed an aggressive approach to informing and testing their children. Further investigation is warranted to determine the psychological consequences of carrier testing for fra(X) syndrome in order to develop appropriate guidelines for testing and informing individuals at risk for fra(X) syndrome.