title: Brachytherapy for prostate cancer does not influence long-term depression rate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Current literature describes concern for an increase in depression owing to treatment of prostate cancer. Here, depression and coping up to 8 years posttreatment are described for patients treated with (125)I brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between December 2000 and June 2010, 132 patients received questionnaires at: baseline, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 8 years posttreatment. The measures included the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Utrecht Coping List. Also general quality of life measures were used: the Short Form Health Survey (RAND-36), the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer C30 questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30+3) and a prostate cancer specific questionnaire (EORTC-PR25). Descriptive statistics were performed and correlations among depression, coping, and general quality of life measures were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline and all follow-up moments, approximately 10% of the patients had a CES-D score of 16 or more, indicating a clinically significant level of depressive symptoms. Depression did not seem to change in time. Active coping was the most predominant style of coping in problem situations. Coping strategy did not change in time. No relevant correlations were found between coping and depression. No significant associations were found between CES-D mean score and patient characteristics (medical and demographic). Relevant negative correlations were found between depression and HRQOL variables vitality, emotional functioning, and mental health (ρ>0.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prostate brachytherapy does not contribute to an increased risk of depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. v_jongkamp@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Victoria G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Jongkamp
authors.forename: Ellen M A
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Roeloffzen
authors.forename: Evelyn M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Monninkhof
authors.forename: J Rob J
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: de Leeuw
authors.forename: Augustinus A M
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lycklama à Nijeholt
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Vulpen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome