Trajectories of total depression and depressive symptoms in prostate cancer patients receiving six months of hormone therapy

Title
Trajectories of total depression and depressive symptoms in prostate cancer patients receiving six months of hormone therapy
Publication Date
2017
Author(s)
Sharpley, Christopher
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7922-4848
Email: csharpl3@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:csharpl3
Christie, David R H
Bitsika, Vicki
Miller, Bradley J
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Place of publication
United Kingdom
DOI
10.1002/pon.4100
UNE publication id
une:22130
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hormone therapy (HT) on depression and depressive symptoms in prostate cancer patients undergoing 6 months of HT. Methods: One hundred two prostate cancer patients who had been prescribed HT completed the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and two questions about their sexual enjoyment and performance, plus a background questionnaire before HT, after 8 to 10 weeks of HT and again after 16 to 20 weeks of HT. Results: There was a significant increase in SDS scores from before to during HT. High depression score before HT was a significant predictor of later increases in depression during HT. Increases in depressive symptoms were restricted to 8 of the 20 SDS symptoms, the most powerful change being in sexual anhedonia, which was a result of decreased ability to perform during sexual activity. Conclusions: The association between HT and elevated depression is confirmed, but the relative influence of sexual anhedonia over other depressive symptoms expands the understanding of this association. The effects of decreased ability to perform during sex appear to dominate the increase in depression during HT.
Link
Citation
Psycho-Oncology, 26(1), p. 60-66
ISSN
1099-1611
1057-9249
Start page
60
End page
66

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