Depression related to (neo)adjuvant hormonal therapy for prostate cancer.
BACKGROUND
We studied whether hormonal therapy, (neo)adjuvant to radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer, is related to an increase in depression and whether this is caused by the hormonal therapy itself or by the relatively poor prognosis of patients who get (neo)adjuvant hormonal therapy.


METHODS
Between 2002 and 2005, 288 patients, irradiated for prostate cancer (T1-3N0M0), were studied prospectively in two clinics. In one clinic almost all patients received (neo)adjuvant androgen deprivation (Bicalutamide+Gosereline). In a second clinic hormonal therapy was prescribed mainly for high risk patients. This allowed us to separate the effects of hormonal therapy and the patient's prognosis.


RESULTS
During the course of hormonal therapy, depression was significantly heightened by both hormone use (p<0.001) and poor prognosis (p<0.01). After completion of hormonal therapy, poor prognosis continued to affect the depression score (p<0.01). The increase was, however, small.


CONCLUSIONS
Depression was mildly increased in patients receiving hormonal therapy. The increase appeared to be related to both the hormone therapy itself and the high risk status of patients. High risk status, with the associated poor prognosis, had a more sustained effect on depression. The rise was statistically significant, but was too small, however, to bear clinical significance.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, The Netherlands. j.vantol@rther.umcn.nl
Julia J
JJ
van Tol-Geerdink
Jan Willem
JW
Leer
Emile N J T
EN
van Lin
Erik C
EC
Schimmel
Peep F M
PF
Stalmeier
D000368:Aged; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000813:Anilides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced*; D017273:Goserelin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D009570:Nitriles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014105:Tosyl Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000813:Anilides; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D009570:Nitriles; D014105:Tosyl Compounds; D017273:Goserelin; C053541:bicalutamide