PURPOSE: 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 125I brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer.
METHODS AND MATERIALS: 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).
CONCLUSION: Prostate brachytherapy does not contribute to an increased risk of depression.
Written by:
Jongkamp VG, Roeloffzen EM, Monninkhof EM, de Leeuw JR, Lycklama À Nijeholt AA, van Vulpen M. Are you the author?
Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Reference: Brachytherapy. 2012 Mar 27. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1016/j.brachy.2012.02.004
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22459065
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