@Article{cju.2025.064705,
AUTHOR = {Zachariah Taylor, Kayla Meyer, Danielle Terrenzio, Ryan Wong, Sharon Larson, Stephanie Kjelstrom, Natalina Contoreggi, Laurence Belkoff, Ilia Zeltser},
TITLE = {Mind matters: how anxiety and depression shape low-risk prostate cancer active surveillance adherence in a real-world population},
JOURNAL = {Canadian Journal of Urology},
VOLUME = {32},
YEAR = {2025},
NUMBER = {1},
PAGES = {21--27},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/CJU/v32n1/60059},
ISSN = {1488-5581},
ABSTRACT = { <b>Purpose:</b> While the mental health impact of a prostate cancer diagnosis, including low-risk prostate cancer, is well-documented, the effect of pre-existing anxiety and/or depression on adherence to active surveillance protocols in low-risk prostate cancer patients remains unclear. This study assessed the association between prior anxiety and/or depression and active surveillance adherence in men with low-risk prostate cancer. <b>Methods:</b> We conducted a retrospective, multicenter study involving 426 men diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer who were recommended active surveillance as the primary management strategy. Active surveillance adherence was defined by completion of both a prostate-specific antigen test and a prostate biopsy within 18 months of diagnosis. Premature treatment was identified as definitive treatment, either through radiation therapy or radical prostatectomy. <b>Results:</b> Men with a prior mental health diagnosis were significantly less likely to adhere to active surveillance than those without such a diagnosis (27.6% vs. 49.5%, <i>p</i> = 0.006). These individuals had lower adherence rates for prostate-specific testing (58.6% vs. 73.4%) and biopsy (27.6% vs. 50.0%) and were more likely to abandon active surveillance in favor of immediate treatment (39.7% vs. 25.0%, <i>p</i> = 0.005). No significant differences were observed between patients with both anxiety and depression versus those with a single diagnosis. <b>Conclusions:</b> Pre-existing anxiety and/or depression is associated with reduced active surveillance adherence and a greater likelihood of premature treatment in men with low-risk prostate cancer. These findings highlight the importance of addressing psychiatric factors in low-risk prostate cancer management and suggest avenues for future research.},
DOI = {10.32604/cju.2025.064705}
}