Association between androgen deprivation therapy and anxiety among 78 000 patients with localized prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether any androgen deprivation therapy use or longer duration is associated with an increased risk of anxiety in patients with prostate cancer.

METHODS: We identified 78 552 men aged ≥66 years with stage I-III prostate cancer using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked database from 1992 to 2006, excluding patients with psychiatric diagnoses within the year prior or 6 months after prostate cancer diagnosis. Multivariable Cox regression was used to examine the association between pharmacological androgen deprivation therapy and diagnosis of anxiety.

RESULTS: The 43.1% (33 882) of patients who received androgen deprivation therapy experienced a higher 3-year cumulative incidence of anxiety compared with men who did not (4.1% vs 3.5%, P < 0.001). Any androgen deprivation therapy use was associated with a nearly significant increased risk of anxiety (adjusted hazard ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.17, P = 0.054). There was a significant trend between a longer duration of therapy and increased risk of anxiety (P-trend = 0.012), with a 16% higher risk for ≥12 months (adjusted hazard ratio 1.16, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.29, P = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS: Androgen deprivation therapy was associated with an elevated risk of anxiety in this cohort of elderly men with localized prostate cancer, with the risk higher with a longer duration of treatment. Anxiety should be considered among the possible psychiatric effects of androgen deprivation therapy and discussed before initiating treatment, particularly if a long course is anticipated.