Depression, Anxiety, and Their Association to Health-Related Quality of Life in Men Commencing Prostate Cancer Treatment at Tertiary Hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa

BACKGROUND: Comorbid depression and anxiety in men with localised prostate cancer (CaP) largely go undiagnosed and untreated and their effects on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in men with CaP should not be underestimated. We examined the prevalence of depression and anxiety and its association with HRQOL in men about to commence treatment for CaP and the differences between treatment groups, radical prostatectomy (RP) and radiation therapy (RT). METHOD: One hundred and seven participants from a longitudinal prospective observational study assessing depression, anxiety and HRQOL in men with localised CaP (DAHCaP), were used in this cross-sectional analysis. Data were collected shortly before participants were scheduled to receive their treatment. The Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer (MAX-PC), the European Organisation for Research and Treatment in Cancer Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and (EORTC QLQ-PR25) were used in this analysis. RESULTS: Symptoms of depression pre-treatment were noted in 39.3%, state anxiety 28%, trait anxiety 31.4% and prostate cancer anxiety in 12.1% of participants. Statistically significant correlations (P ≤ .05) with the CES-D and a cluster of symptoms on the EORTC QLQ-C30 domains for Global Health (r(s) = −.35), fatigue (r(s) = .38), pain (r(s) = .32), dyspnoea (r(s) = .28), insomnia (r(s) = .30) and finance (r(s) = .26) and EORTC QLQ-PR25 domains for urinary symptoms (r(s) = .43), bowel (r(s) = .43) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (r(s) = .41) were observed. Statistically significant correlations were also noted between the STAI-S and EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-PR25. No statistically significant difference was noted between treatments. CONCLUSION: More men were depressed than anxious with significant associations with HRQOL prior to commencement of treatment. CaP treatments should focus not only on the prevailing indisposition but include a psychooncological and HRQOL assessment at pre-treatment in high-risk individuals.