Depressive Symptoms and Low Sexual Desire after Radical Prostatectomy: Early and Long-Term Outcomes in a Real-Life Setting

Purpose: We assessed the rate and predictors of depressive symptoms and impaired sexual desire in patients who underwent open or robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Materials and Methods: A total of 811 patients completed IIEF (International Index of Erectile Function) and BDI (Beck Depression Inventory) preoperatively, and 6, 12, 24 and 36 months postoperatively. Rates and predictors of depressive symptoms and impaired sexual desire were assessed with descriptive statistics and logistic regression models. Results: We analyzed data on 416 patients treated with robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and 395 who underwent open radical prostatectomy. Overall the incidence of patients with postoperative BDI scores suggestive of depressive symptoms ranged between 26.3% at 6 months and 36.7% at 36 months. BDI scores were significantly higher in open than in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy cases at every analyzed postoperative time point (all p < 0.01). Patients treated with robot-assisted radical prostatectomy showed higher IIEF-EF (Erectile Function) domain scores and a greater proportion of them experienced erectile function recovery at each time point compared to those treated with open radical prostatectomy (all p < 0.005). Postoperatively the rate of impaired sexual desire ranged between 40.9% at 6 months and 34.1% at 24 months. IIEF-SD (Sexual Domain) scores were significantly lower in open radical prostatectomy cases at every followup (all p < 0.02). Age, open radical prostatectomy and postoperative erectile dysfunction were independent predictors of BDI scores and impaired sexual desire. Conclusions: One of 3 men surgically treated for prostate cancer still report depressive symptoms months after surgery. Patients who undergo robot-assisted radical prostatectomy reported lower depressive symptoms than those treated with open radical prostatectomy. Sexual desire was highly affected after radical prostatectomy with greater impairment reported by patients who underwent open radical prostatectomy.