Psychosocial implications and the duality of life outcomes for patients with prostate carcinoma after bilateral orchiectomy

• Published in: Neuro-endocrinology letters Vol. 33; no. 8; p. 761
• Main Authors: Louda, Miroslav, Valis, Martin, Splichalova, Jaroslava, Pacovsky, Jaroslav, Khaled, Baker, Podhola, Miroslav, Jansa, Jan, Hasenohrlova, Lucie, Kunc, Pavel, Brodak, Milos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden 2012
• Subjects: Affect; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety Disorders - psychology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Orchiectomy - methods; Orchiectomy - psychology; Palliative Care - psychology; Patient Satisfaction; Prostatic Neoplasms - psychology; Prostatic Neoplasms - surgery; Psychology; Quality of Life - psychology; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Suicide - psychology
• ISSN: 0172-780X

The study presented focuses on patients' psychosocial status after a prostate cancer diagnosis that underwent a bilateral orchiectomy.
We evaluated the psychosocial implications of 89 patients with prostate cancer after performing castration and a bilateral orchiectomy.
Patients suffered significantly more from sleep disorders during hospitalisation when compared to their time prior to an orchiectomy (p<0.0005). There were some increases in the severity of sleep disorder after discharge (level of evidence p<0.05). However, no additional medications for sleep disorders were required. Additionally, there was a significant reduction in the abuse of medication (p<0.001). Ten per cent of the patients were in the care of a psychologist or a psychiatrist before their diagnosis, and 21% asked for the help of a psychologist or a psychiatrist after having a bilateral orchiectomy. The occurrence of mood disorders is also very different than the occurrence of sleep disorders. Mood disorders occurred much less often after orchiectomy and discharge (p>0.085) compared with the period before surgery. Forty per cent of the patients had mood disorders before their operation, while only 37% still had these after discharge. There was a significant decrease in abuse of medication for anxiety. Twenty-four per cent of the patients took medication during hospitalisation, and only 10% continued after orchiectomy.
The results of the study show that patients who were notified about their cancer diagnosis, particularly their health status, exhibited moderate stress and psychological impact.