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. 2019 Apr 5:15:819-829.
doi: 10.2147/NDT.S200501. eCollection 2019.

Cognitive function, depression, and anxiety in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy with and without adjuvant treatment

Piotr Jarzemski  1 , Bartosz Brzoszczyk  1 , Alicja Popiołek  2 , Agnieszka Stachowicz-Karpińska  2 , Szymon Gołota  2 , Maciej Bieliński  2 , Alina Borkowska  2
Affiliations

Cognitive function, depression, and anxiety in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy with and without adjuvant treatment

Piotr Jarzemski et al. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. .

Abstract

Background: Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in developed countries. Both PC and treatment for PC have an adverse impact on physical and mental well-being, and are associated with decreased quality of life. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between neuropsychological symptoms and clinical course in PC patients undergoing radical prostatectomy with or without adjunct therapy.

Methods: The cohort comprised 100 patients aged 50-77 years who underwent radical, laparoscopic prostatectomy for PC. Twenty-three patients with a more advanced clinical stage also received adjuvant therapy (radiotherapy and hormonotherapy). Clinical evaluation included self-report assessment, physical examination, and biochemical tests (testosterone and prostate-specific antigen). In addition, the presence and intensity of sexual dysfunction, urinary dysfunction, anxiety-depressive symptoms, and cognitive dysfunction were assessed.

Results: The group of patients undergoing complex therapy was characterized by a significantly worse result of deferred memory (p=0.04). A significant correlation was found between post-surgery erectile function and scores for the visual working memory test (correct answers; VWMT-C; p=0.006) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale depression (p=0.045) and anxiety scores (p=0.02). A trend toward significance was also observed for simple reaction time (correct answers; p=0.09). A significant correlation was found between results for the delayed verbal memory test and all physical symptoms (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-total, p=0.02; International Index of Erectile Function-5, p=0.006). Similarly, a significant correlation was found between the VWMT-C and score for sexual dysfunction (p=0.003).

Conclusion: Patients undergoing both surgical and adjunct therapy for PC are at risk for psychological burden and cognitive disorders. In the present cohort, physical complications of therapy were associated with depression, anxiety, and delayed memory dysfunction. Furthermore, this study has proven that fewer complications after surgery are associated with better psychological and cognitive functioning. Appropriate neuropsychological and psychiatric care can improve compliance and quality of life among patients after prostatectomy.

Keywords: anxiety; cognition; depression; prostate cancer; sexual dysfunction.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Simple reaction time test results in the study and control groups. Abbreviations: SRT-C, simple reaction time test (number of correct answers); SRT-RT, simple reaction time test (average reaction time).
Figure 2
Figure 2
VMT and VMDT results in the study and control groups. Abbreviations: VMT, verbal memory test; VM-1 to VM-5, verbal memory (number of words remembered in each of the five attempts); VMDT, verbal delayed memory test (number of words remembered).
Figure 3
Figure 3
GoNoGo test results in the study and control groups. Abbreviations: GoNoGo-C, GoNoGo test (number of correct answers); RT, reaction time; IncGo, number of incorrect Go answers; IncNoGo, incorrect NoGo answers.
Figure 4
Figure 4
VWMT results in the study and control groups. Abbreviations: VWMT-C, visual working memory test (number of correct answers); CRT, average response time for correct answers.
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