Prevalence and predictors of probable depression in prostate cancer survivors

Abstract

Background The early diagnosis and treatment of depression are cancer care priorities. These priorities are critical for prostate cancer survivors because men rarely seek mental health care. However, little is known about the epidemiology of depression in this patient population. The goal of this study was to describe the prevalence and predictors of probable depression in prostate cancer survivors. Methods The data were from a population‐based cohort of North Carolinian prostate cancer survivors who were enrolled from 2004 to 2007 in the North Carolina–Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (n = 1031) and were prospectively followed annually from 2008 to 2011 in the Health Care Access and Prostate Cancer Treatment in North Carolina study (n = 805). Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate an indicator of probable depression (Short Form 12 mental composite score ≤48.9; measured at enrollment and during the annual follow‐up) as a function of individual‐level characteristics within the longitudinal data set. Results The prevalence of probable depression fell from 38% in the year of the cancer diagnosis to 20% 6 to 7 years later. Risk factors for probable depression throughout the study were African American race, unemployment, low annual income, younger age, recency of cancer diagnosis, past depression, comorbidities, treatment decisional regret, and nonadherence to exercise recommendations. Conclusions Depression is a major challenge for prostate cancer survivors, particularly in the first 5 years after the cancer diagnosis. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate an association between treatment decisional regret and probable depression.

Effects of social support, hope and resilience on depressive symptoms within 18 months after diagnosis of prostate cancer

“…Watts et al identified pretreatment, on-treatment and post-treatment depression rates of 17.27%, 14.70% and 18.44%, suggesting that prevalence of depression in men with PCa, across the treatment spectrum, is relatively high [ 6 ]. With the advances in treatment, there has been an increasing interest about psychological distress in PCa with androgen deprivation therapy [ 11 ] and survivors [ 12 ], but not much is generally known regarding the mental health issues of patients within 18 months after diagnosis of PCa.…”

Effects of social support, hope and resilience on depressive symptoms within 18 months after diagnosis of prostate cancer

“…Watts et al identi ed pretreatment, on-treatment and post-treatment depression rates of 17.27%, 14.70% and 18.44%, suggesting that prevalence of depression in men with PCa, across the treatment spectrum, is relatively high [6]. With the advances in treatment, there has been an increasing interest about psychological distress in PCa with androgen deprivation therapy [11] and survivors [12], but not much is generally known regarding the mental health issues of patients within 18 months after diagnosis of PCa.…”

Deterioration of Sexual Health in Cancer Survivors Five Years after Diagnosis: Data from the French National Prospective VICAN Survey

“…Indeed, a variety of standardized questionnaires have been used to assess sexual function in oncology settings [ 22 ], most of them were specific to only one type of cancer or gender and focused on the physical aspect (erectile function, lubrication in women), ignoring the other SH domains (sexual desire, hugging and kissing, orgasm difficulties). If a cancer treatment causes specific physical SH side effects such as fatigue, incontinence, erectile dysfunction, dyspareunia, problems with arousal, lubrication, and pain [ 6 , 12 ], then psychological consequences, such as a poor body image, depression, and anxiety, should also be prioritized in the care of cancer survivors [ 23 , 24 , 25 ], and could be strongly related to SH when viewed globally rather than through specific symptoms.…”