Anxiety and depression after prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment: 5-year follow-up

Abstract

To document anxiety and depression from pretreatment till 5-year follow-up in 299 men with localized prostate cancer. To assess, if baseline scores were predictive for anxiety and depression at 1-year follow-up. Respondents completed four assessments (pretreatment, at 6 and 12 months, and at 5-year follow-up) on anxiety, depression and mental health. Respondents were subdivided according to therapy (prostatectomy or radiotherapy) and high vs low-anxiety. Pretreatment 28% of all patients were classified as 'high-anxiety'; their average anxiety scores decreased significantly post-treatment, that is towards less anxiety. At all assessments, highanxiety men treated by prostatectomy reported less depression than high-anxiety men treated by radiotherapy. Of men treated by radiotherapy, 27% reported clinical significant levels of depression while 20% is expected in a general population. The improvement in mental health at 6-months follow-up was statistically significant and clinically meaningful in all respondent groups. Sensitivity of anxiety at baseline as a screening tool was 71% for anxiety and 60% for symptoms of depression. We recommend clinicians to attempt early detection of patients at risk of high levels of anxiety and depression after prostate cancer diagnosis since prevalence is high. STAIState can be a useful screening tool but needs further development.

Supportive care needs of men living with prostate cancer in England: a survey

“…Indeed, there is little evidence on how much these psychological symptoms affect men treated for prostate cancer. Some understanding is provided by Korfage et al (2006) who undertook a 5-year follow-up in Rotterdam of 299 men treated for local disease. They determined that 25% men experienced high anxiety before treatment.…”

The burden of prostate cancer in Canada

“…36 Several instruments have been developed to help identify men with high anxiety, including the Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer (MAX-PC), 37 the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) 38 and, more recently, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (state version) (STAIState). 39 In a recent STAI-State study, 28% of prostate cancer patients at the pre-treatment stage were classed as "high anxiety", but the level of anxiety decreased significantly post-treatment. Those treated with prostatectomy reported less depression than those treated with radiotherapy.…”

Various dermatoses what the patients with cutaneous melanoma had anxiety for the recurrence during postoperative surveillance

“…This early detection could be due to the substantial anxiety and fear associated with melanoma recurrence. According to previous reports on anxiety after cancer diagnosis 22 , patients experienced high levels of anxiety immediately after cessation of treatment, and this anxiety decreased with time. Thus, within the 6 months following the first surgery, patients tended to observe any skin changes more closely and visit a dermatologist more rapidly when a suspicious lesion was found.…”