Genitourinary cancer: psychological assessment and gender differences

The study of the psychological impact in patients diagnosed with cancer is an important topic. Cancer diagnosis can induce feelings of anxiety, depression, fear of recurrence and produce treatment side effects. Men and women tend to differ in their way of dealing with emotional distress and physical illness. The aim of this study is to investigate and evaluate the prevalence and detection of psychological disease in patients with genitourinary tumors and outline the eventual gender differences.

State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Self-Rating Depression Scale and Illness Behavior Questionnaire were administered to 60 patients with genitourinary neoplasm.

Most patients show symptoms of depression and anxiety during the hospitalization. We have observed a significant gender differences in the psycho-emotional assessment.

Our study confirms the importance to make available for the patients a proper and continuous support in pre- and postsurgery period to prevent the generation of psychological disorders.