Brachytherapy for prostate cancer does not influence long-term depression rate

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Psychiatry
• Radiotherapy

Background:

• Concerns exist regarding increased depression following prostate cancer treatment.
• Understanding the long-term psychological impact of localized prostate cancer therapies is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess depression and coping mechanisms in patients treated with (125)I brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer.
• To evaluate changes in depression and coping up to 8 years posttreatment.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 132 patients treated with (125)I brachytherapy completed questionnaires at baseline and up to 8 years posttreatment.
• Validated scales included the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Utrecht Coping List, and multiple quality of life measures (RAND-36, EORTC QLQ-C30+3, EORTC-PR25).
• Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were performed to investigate relationships between depression, coping, and quality of life.

Main Results:

• Approximately 10% of patients consistently reported clinically significant depressive symptoms (CES-D score ≥ 16) throughout the 8-year follow-up.
• Depression levels and coping strategies remained stable over time.
• No significant correlations were found between coping strategies and depression, nor between depression and patient characteristics.
• Significant negative correlations were observed between depression and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) domains including vitality, emotional functioning, and mental health.

Conclusions:

• Prostate brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer does not appear to increase the risk of depression.
• Long-term follow-up indicates stable levels of depressive symptoms and coping mechanisms in this patient group.
• While brachytherapy may not elevate depression risk, its impact on HRQOL warrants consideration.