Depression and Anxiety - Prostate Cancer and the Risk

8/3/2019 Depression and Anxiety - Prostate Cancer and the Risk

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Fact sheet 34

Prostate cancer and therisk o depression /anxiety

For mor informion www.beyondblue.org.au orbeyondblue ino line 1300 22 46361 of 4

Being diagnosed with prostate cancer can take its

toll not only on your body, but also your mind. This

fact sheet looks at:

Whatisprostatecancer?

Whatisdepression?

Whatisanxiety?

Whatarethelinksbetweendepression,anxiety

andprostatecancer? Howcandepression/anxietybetreatedinmen

withprostatecancer?

Howtohelpyourselforanotherpersontorecover.

For more information seebeyondblues booklet

Maintaining your well-being: Information on

depression and anxiety for men with prostate

cancer and their partners.

What Is PROstate caNceR?

Prostate cancer is a orm o cancer where an abnormal growtho prostate cells leads to the growth o a lump (tumour) in the

prostate gland. I let untreated, this may spread to other parts

o the body, particularly the bones and lymph nodes.

Prostate cancer is common one in nine men in Australia will

develop prostate cancer in their lietime.1

What Is DePRessION?

The word depression is oten thought to mean sadness or a low

mood. However, depression is more than just a low mood its a

serious illness or which eective treatments are available.Men may experience a range o dierent emotions and eelings

ater being diagnosed with prostate cancer. They oten describe

eeling in shock or numb ater hearing the diagnosis. Other

common reactions include eeling anxious or nervous and

sometimes, sad and distressed. Being diagnosed with prostate

cancer can be a difcult time or many men and it is normal to

eel upset or angry.

Some men, however, experience these eelings intensely and

or long periods o time. Having a depressed mood can extend

beyond the issue o cancer and into all areas o a persons lie.

Men with depression fnd it hard to carry out their normaldaily activities.

1 Prostate Cancer Foundation o Australia. Accessed online 5/11/08:

http://www.prostate.org.au/prostate-cancer-related-statistics.php

Depression is very common. Around one million Australian

adults live with depression each year. On average, one in eight

men will experience depression in their adult lietime.2

DO YOU HAVE DEPRESSION?

You may be depressed, i or more than TWO WEEKS you have:

1. Felt sad, down or miserable most o the time?

2. Lost interest or pleasure in most o your usual activities?

I you answered YES to either o these questions,complete the symptom checklist below. I you did not

answer YES to either o these questions, it is unlikely

that you have a depressive illness.

Have you:

3. Had a change in weight? OR

Had a change in appetite?

4. Experienced sleep disturbances?

5. Felt slowed down, restless or excessively busy?

6. Felt tired or had no energy?

7. Felt worthless, excessively guilty OR

Felt guilt about things without a good reason?

8. Had poor concentration? OR

Had difculties thinking? OR

Been very indecisive?

9. Had recurrent thoughts o death?

Add up the number o ticks or the total score: _____

What does your score mean?

(Assuming you answered YES to questions 1 and/or question 2)

4 or less: You are unlikely to be experiencing

a depressive illness

5 or more: It is likely that you may be experiencing

a depressive illness

Reerences: American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual o

mental disorders, 4th ed (DSM-IV). Washington, DC: APA,1994; and, International

classifcation o diseases and related health problems, 10th revision. Geneva, World

Health Organization, 1992-1994.

Its important to note that scores provide only a rough guide

as to whether you may have depression. I you have ticked

fve or more o these statements, consult a health proessionalas you may have a depressive illness.

2 Australian Bureau o Statistics (2008).2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing:

Summary of Results (4326.0). Canberra: ABS.


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Fact sheet 34



What Is aNXIetY?

An anxiety disorder is more than just eeling stressed it can

be a serious illness. People with anxiety disorders fnd it hard

to unction every day. Research indicates that men who

have been diagnosed with prostate cancer may be more

likely to experience an anxiety disorder (in particular

generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder) than men

in the general community.3 Partners o men with prostate

cancer are also at risk o developing an anxiety disorder.

There are many types o anxiety disorders, each with a range

o symptoms. A number o dierent actors surrounding diagnosis,

treatment and remission o prostate cancer may contribute to the

development o an anxiety disorder in men and their partners.

For example, concerns about prostate specifc antigen (PSA) levels,

concerns about treatments and potential side-eects, and ear

o recurrence o the cancer may compound the persons anxiety.

For more inormation on anxiety disorders, symptom checklists and

treatments seebeyondblueF 21 anxiy diordr or

visit thebeyondblue website www.byondblu.org.u

What Is the LINK BetWeeN DePRessION

aND PROstate caNceR?

Men with prostate cancer are nearly twice as likely to

develop depression as men in the general community.2

Partners o men with prostate cancer are also at risk o

developing depression. There are many actors that may put

a person at risk o developing depression.

Personal history: Men who have experienced depression

beore being diagnosed with prostate cancer are more likely

to become depressed compared to men without a historyo depression.

Liestyle actors: Having prostate cancer can cause worry,

stress and sadness, which may put a man at risk o

experiencing depression. Having prostate cancer may make

it seem like an eort to keep active and connect with amily

members and riends. This may lead to a person eeling isolated

and thereore make it harder to recover rom depression.

Biological actors: Changes in chemicals in the brain

caused by treatment or prostate cancer can put men at

greater risk o depression. For example, hormonal treatments

are common in the treatment o prostate cancer and can

cause mood changes such as depression.

3 Couper, J.W., Bloch, S., Love, A., Duchesne, G., Macvean, M. & Kissane, D.W. (2006)

The psychosocial impact o prostate cancer on patients and their partners. MJA, 185 (8), 428 432.

Physical actors: Depression may be harder to diagnose

in men with prostate cancer because common physical

symptoms, such as eeling tired or losing weight may be

attributed to prostate cancer or side-eects o its treatment,

when in act they could be signs o depression.

caN DePRessION aND/OR aNXIetY

Be tReateD IN MeN WIth PROstate

caNceR?

Depression and anxiety are treatable and men can recover

with the right advice and help. There is a range o treatments

that can be eective or men with prostate cancer and

depression and/or anxiety. Treatment may include

psychological therapies and/or medication.

Psychological treatments

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

When people are depressed and/or anxious, they oten

have unhelpul and negative ways o thinking about situations.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy helps people learn to identiyand change these negative ways o thinking. CBT is a structured

program which recognises that the way people think aects

the way they eel.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

The way people get along with others is important to how

they eel. Interpersonal Therapy helps people fnd new ways

to improve relationships in order to begin eeling better.

Medication

I a man is only mildly or moderately depressed, psychologicaltreatment alone may be eective. However, i depression is

severe or persists, medication is oten also needed.

Antidepressant medication (which is also used to treat anxiety

disorders) can take seven to 21 days to work eectively and

should not be started or stopped without medical advice.

Alcohol use can also aect medication.

Its important that any current medication or prostate cancer

and over-the-counter medications, including herbal or natural

remedies, are reviewed by a medical practitioner beore a

person starts taking antidepressants.


3/4For mor informion www.beyondblue.org.au orbeyondblue ino line 1300 22 46363 of 4

heLPFUL tIPs FOR MaNaGING

DePRessION aND/OR aNXIetY

I you suspect you or a person or whom you care may have

depression and/or an anxiety disorder or you have been

diagnosed with depression and/or an anxiety disorder

the ollowing tips may be helpul.

Speaktoadoctoraboutyourconcernsanddiscuss

treatment options.

Accepthelp,supportandencouragementfromfamilyand riends.

Reduceisolationbybecominginvolvedinsocialactivities.

Exerciseregularly(seebeyondblueF 8

Kping iv).

Eathealthilyandincludeawidevarietyofnutritiousfoods

(seebeyondblueF 30 hly ing for popl

wi dprion, nxiy nd rld diordr).

Achieveandmaintainahealthyweight.

Getenoughsleep(seebeyondblueF s 7

slping wll). Limitalcoholintake(seebeyondblueF s 9

Rduing lool nd or drug).

Allowyourselftimetorelaxandreduceyourstress

(seebeyondblueF 6 Rduing r).

Gotoadoctorforregularcheck-ups.

aDVIce FOR PaRtNeRs aND caReRs

When a man has prostate cancer and depression/anxiety it can

aect amily members, carers and riends. Carers and partners

are also at an increased risk o depression/anxiety, so its

important that you look ater your own health.

Eatwell,exerciseregularly,getenoughsleep,limitalcohol

intake and avoid other drugs.

Allowyourselftimetorelaxandparticipateinenjoyable

activities. Plan activities like social outings and gentle exercise.

Lookforsymptomsofdepression/anxietyinyourselfand

seek help at the earliest sign.

Seeksupportfromprofessionals.Thismayinvolvehaving

counselling or attending a carer support group.

Findwaystoeasetheloade.g.takingCarersLeaverom work.

Formoreinformationonstress-managementtechniques,

readbeyondblueF 6 Rduing r.

Formoreinformationonhowtohelpsomeonewith

depression seebeyondblueF 1 how n you

lp omon wi dprion? and also thebeyondblue

Guide for Carers Supporting and caring for a person

with depression, anxiety and/or a related disorder.

WheRe tO Get heLP

A doctor who is a General Practitioner (GP) is a good

frst step. I GPs have additional training, they can also

provide psychological treatments or i not, a reerral to a

mental health specialist.

Psychiatrists are doctors who specialise in mental health.

They can make medical and psychological assessments,

conduct medical tests and prescribe medication. Some

psychiatrists use psychological treatments such as CBT

and IPT.

Psychologists specialise in providing non-medical

(psychological) treatment or depression and relateddisorders. Clinical psychologists have additional training in

mental health and psychological therapies such as CBT

and IPT.

Social Workers and Occupational Therapists in Mental

Health provide counselling and support to assist people to

cope and manage depression/anxiety.

MeDIcaRe ReBates

A rebate can be claimed through Medicare or Psychological

Therapy or Focused Psychological Strategies when a

GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician reers a person to a clinical

psychologist, registered psychologist, social worker or

occupational therapist in mental health. A rebate can be

claimed or part o the cost o up to 12 individual consultations

(more in exceptional circumstances) and 12 group sessions

in a calendar year. For more details, ask the reerring medical

practitioner or seebeyondblueF 24 hlp for

dprion undr Mdir.

I the mental health practitioner bulk-bills, there will be no

upront charge and thereore no reason to claim a rebate.


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Fact sheet 34



For a list o health proessionals with expertise in treating

depression/anxiety, go to thebeyondblue website:

www.byondblu.org.uand click on Find a Doctor or

other Mental Health Practitioner or call thebeyondblue ino

line on 1300 22 4636 (local call cost rom a landline).

MORe INFORMatION

beyondblue: the national depression initiative

www.beyondblue.org.au

Inormation on depression, anxiety and related alcohol anddrug problems, available treatments and where to get help

beyondblue ino line 1300 22 4636

Inormation on depression, anxiety and related drug and

alcohol problems, available treatments and reerral only

(local call cost rom a landline)

www.youthbeyondblue.com

beyondblues website or young people inormation

on depression, anxiety and how to help a riend

Prostate Cancer Foundation o Australia

www.prostate.org.au1800 22 00 99

Inormation about prostate cancer and where to go or support and

help, including state and territory prostate cancer support groups

Cancer Council Helpline

www.cancer.org.au

13 11 20

Inormation about cancer and where to go or support and help

The Lions Australia Prostate Cancer Website

www.prostatehealth.org.au

Inormation about prostate cancer, support groups, newsand an email helpline

Andrology Australia

www.andrologyaustralia.org

1300 303 878

Inormation on male reproductive health

Foundation 49

www.49.com.au

03 9508 1567

Inormation on mens health

Mensline Australiawww.menslineaus.org.au

1300 78 99 78

24 hour telephone support, inormation and reerral or men

Carers Australia

1800 242 636

www.carersaustralia.com.au

Inormation, reerral and support or carers

Continence Foundation

1800 33 00 66

www.continence.org.au

Inormation on preventing and managing incontinence

FURtheR ReaDINGbeyondblue has inormation resources that can assist men with prostate

cancer and their partners. Allbeyondblue resources can be ordered rom

thebeyondblue website www.byondblu.org.u or thebeyondblue ino

line 1300 22 4636.

beyondblues booklet Maintaining your well-being: Information on

depression and anxiety for men with prostate cancer and their partners

beyondblueF s 12 Dprion in mn

beyondblueF s 23 croni pyil illn nd dprion

beyondblueF s 21 anxiy diordr

beyondblueF s 1 how n you lp omon wi

dprion? beyondblueF s 6 Rduing r

beyondblueF s 7 slping wll

beyondblueF s 8 Kping iv

beyondblueF s 9 Rduing lool nd or drug

beyondblueF s 30 hly ing for popl wi

dprion, nxiy nd rld diordr

Taking care of yourself and your family: a resource book for good

mental health by John Ashfeld

beyondblue: the national depression initiative , 2009.

PO Box 6100, Hawthorn West VIC 3122

T: (03) 9810 6100beyondblue ino line 1300 22 4636

F: (03) 9810 6111

E: [email protected]

W: www.beyondblue.org.au

beyondblueisproudtoacknowledgethesupportofMovember

inraisingawarenessofdepression,anxietyandprostatecancer.

06/09

Depression and Anxiety - Prostate Cancer and the Risk

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