title: Changes in sexual function on mood and quality of life in patients undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the percentages of men with and without changes in sexual function from the beginning to end of radiation therapy and evaluate for differences in demographic and clinical characteristics, mood states, and quality of life (QOL) among patients who did and did not experience changes in sexual function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive, longitudinal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two radiation therapy departments in northern California.
  
  
  METHODS
  70 men with prostate cancer who underwent primary or adjuvant radiation therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-report questionnaires, medical record reviews, and repeated measures analysis of variance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in sexual function; depression, anxiety, and QOL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were categorized into one of four sex groups (No Problem X 2, Problem-No Problem, No Problem-Problem, and Problem X 2) based on their responses to "Is your sexuality impacted by your illness?" at the beginning and end of radiation therapy. About 50% had a problem with sexual function either at the beginning or end of radiation therapy. Overall, men without sexual problems at both the beginning and end of radiation therapy had significantly less anxiety and depression and higher QOL scores than patients who developed a problem at the end and patients who had a problem at both time points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes in sexual function during the course of radiation therapy affect patients' mood and QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians should evaluate the effects of radiation therapy on sexual function and monitor patients with prostate cancer for depression and anxiety as well as for changes in QOL.
authors.affiliation: Sutter Roseville Medical Center, Roseville, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Kristie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Howlett
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koetters
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Edrington
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Bradley E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Aouizerat
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wara
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Swift
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miaskowski
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002140:California; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires