Prostate cancer: Issues in psychosomatic medicine

Abstract

Prostate cancer is now a chronic condition. Screening, diagnosis, and treatment pose specific psychosocial challenges for men diagnosed and surviving with prostate cancer. Depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment lead to emotional distress and difficulty coping. Treatments for psychosocial distress are targeted at couples and individuals. Lifestyle modification may improve coping and quality-of-life indicators.

The burden of depression in prostate cancer

“…Depression could be a direct consequence of treatment (e.g., hormonal therapy that decreases testosterone levels [37,38]), a direct effect of disease (e.g., pain or fatigue in advanced prostate cancer [39,40]) or an indirect result of functional loss because of treatment (e.g., sexual dysfunction after radical prostatectomy [41]). Although the prevalence of depression diagnosis among patients with prostate cancer in our sample was comparable with other estimates employing diagnostic interviews (e.g., Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV [37]) or scales (e.g., Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [42], Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [43][44][45]), these reported prevalence estimates of depression in prostate cancer were derived from small (100 men or fewer) outpatient or hospitalized samples [10,46,47]. Three population-based studies reported that rates of suicide among men with prostate cancer were markedly elevated compared with men without prostate cancer [11,48,49].…”

“…Three population‐based studies reported that rates of suicide among men with prostate cancer were markedly elevated compared with men without prostate cancer . Despite the development of effective management strategies that reduce the burden of depression among older adults , many studies describing interventions directed at psychosocial issues associated with the diagnosis of prostate cancer have focused on providing information about the disease rather than specifically addressing depression .…”

Intrusion, avoidance, and daily negative affect among couples coping with prostate cancer: A dyadic investigation.

“…Coping with a cancer diagnosis is emotionally challenging (Keuroghlian, Butler, Neri, & Spiegel, 2010; Mehnert, Berg, Henrich, & Herschbach, 2009; Whitaker, Watson, & Brewin, 2009). Treatment side effects, fears of cancer progression and reoccurrence, changes in quality of life, erectile dysfunction, and decreased libido are all problems faced by prostate cancer patients (Chism & Kunkel, 2009; Manne, Badr, Zaider, Nelson, & Kissane, 2010; Pozo-Kaderman, Kaderman, & Toonkel, 1999). As a result, substantial negative affect is common (Kim, Roscoe, & Morrow, 2002).…”

Cognitive impairment among prostate cancer patients: An overview of reviews

“…Twenty-eight reviews (Ahles & Saykin, 2007;Artherholt & Fann, 2012;Beauchet, 2006;Biegler, Chaoul, & Cohen, 2009;Chen & Petrylak, 2004;Chism & Kunkel, 2009;Droz et al, 2010;Falci, Morello, & Droz, 2009;Green, Pakenham, & Gardiner, 2005;Grossmann & Zajac, 2011;Gruca, Bacher, & Tunn, 2012;Harrington et al, 2010;Holzbeierlein, 2006;Isbarn et al, 2009;Jamadar, Winters, & Maki, 2012;Janelsins et al, 2011;Mitsiades et al, 2008;Mohile et al, 2009;Mottet et al, 2006;Nelson et al, 2008;Scherr & Pitts, 2003;Sharifi, 2005;Tombal, 2009;Trost et al, 2013;Wefel, Kayl, & Meyers, 2004;Wright, Higano, & Lin, 2006;Ziółkowska et al, 2012) described 20 primary studies (Alibhai et al, 2010;Almeida et al, 2004;Beer, Bland, Garzotto, Ryan, & Janowsky, 2004;Beer et al, 2006;Bloomfield, Shilling, Edington, & Jenkins, 2004;Bussiere et al, 2005;Cherrier, Aubin, & Higano, 2009;Cherrier, Rose, & Higano, 2003;DiBlasio et al, 2008;Green et al, 2002Green et al, , 2004 (prevalen* or inciden...…”