Neurobiological and psychological evidence of chronic stress in prostate cancer patients. (2nd March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sharpley, C.F.; Christie, D.R.H.; Bitsika, V.; Agnew, L.L.; Andronicos, N.M.; McMillan, M.E.; Richards, T.M.
• Is Part Of: European journal of cancer care. Volume 26:Number 6(2017:Nov.)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-03-02
• Subjects: male cancers -- prostate cancer -- psychological; Cancer -- Nursing -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1111/ecc.12671
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0961-5423

Abstract

Abstract : To measure the prevalence and severity of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), hypo‐ and hypercortisolaemia, and their association in a sample of prostate cancer (PCa) patients, 97 Australian PCa patients completed a background questionnaire and the GAD‐7, and provided a sample of saliva collected 30–45 min after waking. The mean GAD7 score was 9.67 ( SD = 3.09), and prevalence rates for current anxiety were higher than those reported for non‐PCa males of a similar age. Mean salivary cortisol concentrations (30.78 nmol/L, SD = 13.97 nmol/L) were also higher than for age‐comparative non‐PCa men. There was a significant inverse correlation between GAD and cortisol ( r = −. 209, p < .05), and four subgroups of GAD‐cortisol patients were able to be identified, with evidence of both hyper‐ and hypocortisolaemia. These findings provide initial neurobiological evidence of the chronic and profound nature of stress experienced by PCa patients, and also suggest a possible measure that might be used to identify most at‐risk PCa patients.