The psychological impact of Peyronie's disease: a retrospective analysis of 603 patients

Peyronie's disease (PD) impacts the penile albuginea, leading to deformity, pain, erectile dysfunction (ED), and an anxious-depressive state. Diagnosis of PD involves taking a detailed medical history; examining the penis by palpation; documenting any deformities; performing a dynamic Doppler ultrasound; and administering questionnaires to assess pain, erectile dysfunction (ED), and the patient's psychological status. The aim of this study was to assess the symptoms of PD and their prevalence among patients in the active phase who were seen at our andrology clinic.

The inclusion criteria were: data must be available for patients diagnosed with active PD, including a comprehensive medical history, blood test results, penile examination information, photographic evidence of the deformity, color Doppler penile ultrasound, and completed questionnaires, including visual analog scale (VAS) for pain assessment, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) for assessing erectile function, and psychometric test.

Patients with PD who are in a stable phase or not having data requested for inclusion.  Results: We detected penile curvature in 90.5%, penile pain in 54%; ED in 39.3%, significative anxiety in 89.0%, significative depression in 57.6%, and bother in 93.6%.

Our study revealed that a large number of patients with PD experience significant levels of anxiety and depression, with 38.3% of them experiencing severe anxiety. Psychotherapy should be included as part of the treatment plan for patients with PD to enhance their quality of life and adherence to treatment.