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Psychological distress and adjustment to disease in patients before and after radical prostatectomy. Results of a prospective multi‐centre study
Author(s) -
Köhler N.,
Friedrich M.,
Gansera L.,
Holze S.,
Thiel R.,
Roth S.,
Rebmann U.,
Stolzenburg J.U.,
Truss M.C.,
Fahlenkamp D.,
Scholz H.J.,
Brähler E.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/ecc.12186
Subject(s) - medicine , prostatectomy , anxiety , depression (economics) , distress , hospital anxiety and depression scale , erectile dysfunction , prostate cancer , prospective cohort study , disease , population , urinary system , urology , physical therapy , surgery , cancer , psychiatry , clinical psychology , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
The aim of this prospective multi‐centre study was to evaluate the level of psychological distress ( PD ) and adjustment to disease in patients who underwent radical prostatectomy. Furthermore, the impact of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction on PD was assessed. Anxiety, depression and PD were evaluated using the H ospital A nxiety and D epression S cale in 329 prostate cancer patients before surgery as well as 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. These results were compared with those of a male G erman general population reference group. Adjustment to disease was assessed using the P erceived A djustment to C hronic I llness S cale. Patients reported low levels of PD at all points of assessment similar to population norms of age‐matched G erman men. Persistent PD was seen in about 8% of the patients and 20% had PD at least two of the measurement points. Relevant predictors for PD after surgery were urinary symptoms and baseline PD . Adjustment to disease was highest before surgery and had significantly reduced at 3 and 6 months after surgery. In general, men are resilient to the experience of localised prostate cancer and adjust well psychologically after surgery. However, between 8% and 20% of patients could possibly benefit from mental health support.