An analysis of the psychometric profile and frequency of anxiety and depression in Australian men with prostate cancer

Abstract

Zung's Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale were used to collect data from 195 Australian men who had received a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Analysis was via separate scales and also by combining both scales into a single unit to assess anxiety–depression and then analysing the underlying component structure of that unit. Applying Zung's recommended cutoff scores, 12% of the sample were classified as having clinically significant levels of anxiety and 16% had similar levels of depression. Factor analysis of the combined SAS and SDS indicated four major components which reflected a process of: loss of functional capacity, worthlessness and hopelessness, fear and somatic symptomatology. Implications for the effective assessment and treatment of anxiety and depression in prostate patients are discussed.