The impact of depression and somatic symptoms on treatment outcomes in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a preliminary study in a naturalistic treatment setting

AimThe aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of depression and somatic symptoms on treatment outcomes in Korean male patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) attending a routine clinical practice. MethodsThis was a 12-week prospective observational study (n=80). The Korean version of the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) to measure the severity of CP/CPPS, the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess depression, the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) to evaluate somatisation and the Korean version of the EuroQol Questionnaire-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), specifically the EQ-5D utility index and the EQ-5D visual analogue scale (EQ-5D VAS), to assess quality of life, were utilised and given at baseline and week 12. The primary and secondary end-points in this study were changes in the NIH-CPSI total score from baseline to week 12 according to depression and somatisation. ResultsThe change in NIH-CPSI total score was significantly higher in those without depression than in those with depression (p=0.003), with a magnitude of difference of 2.8. The responder rate (a4 point decrease in NIH-CPSI total score from baseline) was significantly higher in those without depression (42.9%) than in those with depression (17.2%, p=0.023). However, significant differences were not observed between the two groups in the other outcome measures or in all study outcomes between subjects with or without somatisation. A logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence or absence of depression may be a principal predictor of response to treatment. ConclusionThese preliminary results indicate that depression may have a negative impact on treatment outcome and is a likely predictor of response to treatment in patients with CP/CPPS. However, additional studies with adequate power and improved design are necessary to further support the present findings.