Table 4.

Radical prostatectomy (RP) and psychological adjustment

Study	Design	Characteristics of the sample	Major findings
Pietroff et al. (2001)	• Retrospective, questionnaire – based inquiry, comparing those with (25%) and without PSA recurrence, an average 3 years post-surgery • UCLA Prostate Cancer Index and the RAND 36-item Health Survey used	• 348 patients with localized disease	• Small difference only on QOL between the 2 groups; generally, men well adjusted • PSA-recurrence group, unexpectedly had higher scores on emotional well-being
Rosetti and Terrone (1996)	• Retrospective inquiry (EORTC) 1 – 15 years after RP	• 161 patients, of whom "over 80%" did not have metastases	• Minimal overall psychological impact • 90% satisfied with surgery, and would opt to have it again
Heathcote et al. (1998)	• Retrospective inquiry 1–6 years after surgery • QOL measure constructed by authors	• 140 patients who had no evidence of recurrent or residual disease	• 90% satisfied with treatment, despite impotence in 40% of sample
Meyer et al. (2003)	• Retrospective inquiry (ED – QOL)a median 7 years after surgery	• 89 patients with localized disease	• Most patients felt adverse effects, including anger, guild and sadness associated with impotence. • 75% of men had lowered self-esteem to some degree
Ficarra et al. (2000)	• Retrospective inquiry an average 2 years after surgery; inclusion of control group of men who had RP for benign prostatic hyperplasia. • General Health Questionnaire and the Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale	• 30 patients with localized disease	• Cancer patients had significantly higher levels of anxiety • Depression levels similar in 2 groups; minimal in each group
Randorf-Klym and Colling (2003)	• Retrospective inquiry 1–2 years following surgery • QOL measure constructed by authors	• 88 patients	• Perceived social support, self-esteem and health locus of control predicted post-surgery QOL • Suppression of anger and depression non-predictors