Effect of treating lower urinary tract symptoms on anxiety, depression and psychiatric morbidity: a one-year study.
BACKGROUND
The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of treating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) on anxiety, depression and psychiatric morbidity following one year of follow-up.


METHODS
A total of 297 patients were involved in this study. Patients were recruited into a surgical group (patients underwent transurethral resection of the prostate, n = 111), a medical group (underwent alpha-blockers treatment, n = 116) and a control group (renal stones patients with no or mild symptoms of severity, n = 70). Patients were assessed on anxiety, depression and psychiatric morbidity levels before and after treatment and were followed at 3, 6 and 12 months.


RESULTS
The study showed that before treatment for LUTS, most of the patients, especially the surgical group compared to the medical and control groups, were more anxious, depressed and psychiatrically morbid. However, after treatment, most of the patients in the surgical group experienced a great improvement in their anxiety, depression and psychiatric morbidity level when compared to the medical and control groups. The reduction or improvement of their psychological profile was due to the reduction or total withdrawal of LUTS after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Both medical and surgical treatment improved patient LUTS and thus improved their overall anxiety, depression and psychiatric morbidity.
Health Research Development Unit, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia. quientine@time.net.my
Kia Fatt
KF
Quek
Azad Hassan
AH
Razack
Chong Beng
CB
Chua
Wah Yun
WY
Low
Chit Sin
CS
Loh
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*