Anxiety and depression in patients with prostate cancer and other urogenital cancer: a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the degree and the course of psychological distress (anxiety and depression) in cancer patients and to detect sociodemographic determinants of the scores.


METHODS
Patients with prostate cancer (n = 287) and other urogenital cancer (n = 126) were tested with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at the following time points: at the beginning (T1) and the end (T2) of the treatment in the hospital, 6 months later (T3), and 1 year later (T4).


RESULTS
Anxiety mean scores were highest at the start of the stay in the hospital. About 36% of the patients were at least doubtful cases at T1. However, the anxiety mean scores from T2 to T4 were similar to those of the general population and lower than those of cardiac patients. Depression mean scores were even lower than those of the general population. Young age and receiving radio- and/or chemotherapy were predictive of higher psychological distress.


CONCLUSIONS
The low mean scores of anxiety and depression from T2 to T4 indicate that most of the prostate cancer patients do not need help from mental health professionals. Nevertheless, some patients may profit from mental health support, especially at the beginning of the stay in the hospital.
Hinz
Andreas
A
Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. hinz@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Krauss
Oliver
O
Stolzenburg
Jens-Uwe
JU
Schwalenberg
Thilo
T
Michalski
Dominik
D
Schwarz
Reinhold
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014565:Urogenital Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology