An analysis of the psychometric profile and frequency of anxiety and depression in Australian men with prostate cancer

Zung's Self‐Rating Anxiety Scale and Self‐Rating Depression Scale were used to collect data from 195 Australian men who had received a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Analysis was via separate scales and also by combining both scales into a single unit to assess anxiety–depression and then analysing the underlying component structure of that unit. Applying Zung's recommended cutoff scores, 12% of the sample were classified as having clinically significant levels of anxiety and 16% had similar levels of depression. Factor analysis of the combined SAS and SDS indicated four major components which reflected a process of: loss of functional capacity, worthlessness and hopelessness, fear and somatic symptomatology. Implications for the effective assessment and treatment of anxiety and depression in prostate patients are discussed.