OBJECTIVES: The study presented focuses on patients' psychosocial status after a prostate cancer diagnosis that underwent a bilateral orchiectomy.
METHODS: We evaluated the psychosocial implications of 89 patients with prostate cancer after performing castration and a bilateral orchiectomy.
RESULTS: Patients suffered significantly more from sleep disorders during hospitalisation when compared to their time prior to an orchiectomy (p< 0.0005). There were some increases in the severity of sleep disorder after discharge (level of evidence p< 0.05). However, no additional medications for sleep disorders were required. Additionally, there was a significant reduction in the abuse of medication (p< 0.001). Ten per cent of the patients were in the care of a psychologist or a psychiatrist before their diagnosis, and 21% asked for the help of a psychologist or a psychiatrist after having a bilateral orchiectomy. The occurrence of mood disorders is also very different than the occurrence of sleep disorders. Mood disorders occurred much less often after orchiectomy and discharge (p>0.085) compared with the period before surgery. Forty per cent of the patients had mood disorders before their operation, while only 37% still had these after discharge. There was a significant decrease in abuse of medication for anxiety. Twenty-four per cent of the patients took medication during hospitalisation, and only 10% continued after orchiectomy.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study show that patients who were notified about their cancer diagnosis, particularly their health status, exhibited moderate stress and psychological impact.
Written by:
Louda M, Valis M, Splichalova J, Pacovsky J, Khaled B, Podhola M, Jansa J, Hasenohrlova L, Kunc P, Brodak M. Are you the author?
Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Charles University and Teaching Hospital in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
Reference: Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2012;33(8):761-4.
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23391980
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