Psychosocial adjustment in newly diagnosed prostate cancer Journal Article


Authors: Love, A. W.; Scealy, M.; Bloch, S.; Duchesne, G.; Couper, J.; MacVean, M.; Costello, A.; Kissane, D. W.
Article Title: Psychosocial adjustment in newly diagnosed prostate cancer
Abstract: Objective: To examine the psychological and social adjustment of men with early or advanced stage prostate cancer and to compare them with a matched group of cancer-free community volunteers. Methods: A longitudinal observational study in which 367 men recently diagnosed with early (n = 211) or advanced stage (n = 156) prostate cancer were compared to 169 cancer-free men from the community, of similar age and residential area, using self-report measures of psychosocial adjustment. Results: On the mental health subscales of the Short-Form 36-item Health Survey, men with advanced disease had lower vitality and social functioning than the other two groups, and lower mental health scores than the comparison group. Both patient groups had lower role-emotional scores than the comparison group. With regard to the Brief Symptom Inventory, the advanced disease group had higher somatization scores, and lower interpersonal sensitivity and paranoid ideation scores than the early stage group and the community comparison group. In terms of psychiatric morbidity, there were higher rates of anxiety disorders but not depressive disorders in both patient groups although overall diagnosis rates were low. No differences were found in terms of couple or family functioning. Conclusions: There is impairment in psychosocial function in men with prostate cancer, particularly those with advanced disease, but no increase in the rate of formal psychiatric disorder or adverse effects on the couples and families. This suggests directions for psychosocial interventions with these patient groups.
Keywords: adult; controlled study; aged; middle aged; major clinical study; disease course; advanced cancer; cohort studies; morbidity; risk assessment; prostate cancer; prostatic neoplasms; adaptation, psychological; depression; longitudinal studies; severity of illness index; early cancer; disease progression; psychiatric status rating scales; psycho-oncology; anxiety disorder; generalized anxiety disorder; major depression; panic; phobia; brief symptom inventory; attitude to illness; short form 36; interview, psychological; emotionality; mental health; anxiety disorders; depressive disorder; stress, psychological; social psychology; longitudinal study; psychologic assessment; distress; adjustment; somatization; social interaction; self disclosure; family life; dysthymia; maladjustment; paranoia; social phobia
Journal Title: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
Volume: 42
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0004-8674
Publisher: Sage Publications  
Date Published: 2008-05-01
Start Page: 423
End Page: 429
Language: English
DOI: 10.1080/00048670801961081
PUBMED: 18473260
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 9" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "CODEN: ANZPB" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. David W Kissane
    164 Kissane