Androgen deprivation therapy's impact on the mood of prostate cancer patients as perceived by patients and the partners of patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and the mood of prostate cancer (PCa) patients and partners of PCa patients.


METHODS
PCa patients (n = 295) and partners of patients (n = 84) completed an online survey assessing the patients' current mood and mood prior to treatment, relationship adjustment, and sexual function. We compared men on ADT to men who received non-hormonal treatments for their PCa.


RESULTS
Patients currently treated with ADT (n = 82) reported worsened mood as measured by the Profile of Mood States compared to those not on ADT (n = 213). The negative impact of ADT on mood, however, was reduced in older patients. Partners of patients on ADT (n = 42) reported similar declines in the patient's mood that patients reported, but to a greater degree than patient-reported levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data support ADT's impact on PCa patients' mood and verify that partners concurrently see the effects. The psychological changes related to ADT can impact relationships and affect the quality of life of both PCa patients and partners. Patients and their partners are likely to benefit from being well informed about the psychological effects of androgen deprivation on men beginning ADT. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychology Department, Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, Canada.
Dexter
D
Van Dam
Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.|Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health, and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Richard J
RJ
Wassersug
Psychology Department, Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, Canada.
Lisa Dawn
LD
Hamilton
D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000523:psychology*; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal