Mapping the contributions of dyadic approaches to couples' psychosocial adaptation to prostate cancer: a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer is the second-most prevalent cancer diagnosis worldwide among males. Although prostate cancer affects the physical, sexual, and mental health of patients, the impact of prostate cancer on partners has also been increasingly recognized. Hence, taking a dyadic approach is of relevance. Moreover, there is evidence of the utility of dyadic approaches to the study of relational stress that chronic diseases such as prostate cancer can bring to couples, even though knowledge is sparse about prostate cancer. OBJECTIVES: This scoping review aimed to map existing dyadic studies on the psychosocial adaptation of couples to prostate cancer. METHODS: A systematic search of studies published from 2005 to November 2022 was conducted on electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EBSCOHost, Scopus, and Web of Science) following PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses-Extension for Scoping Reviews). RESULTS: The review included 25 eligible studies from the initial 2514 articles retrieved. Overall, the results emphasized the interdependency between couple members and suggested how partners' adaptation influences patients' adaptation to prostate cancer and vice versa, regarding several psychosocial dimensions (eg, intimacy, quality of life). CONCLUSIONS: This work can bring awareness to health care professionals to adopt a couples approach when managing prostate cancer whenever there is a partner, due to these interdependent influences. For researchers and future studies, this work can strengthen the relevance of dyadic approaches on how couples adapt to prostate cancer and explore which other dimensions influence these complex dynamics.

A systematic review on the efficacy of CBT interventions for the mental and sexual health of survivors of prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second-most frequently diagnosed oncologic condition among biological men, affecting physical and psychological well-being, as well as sexual health and quality of life. Prior research has shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be effective in addressing a range of psychological and sexual problems but also in improving the sexual and mental health of survivors of PCa. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aimed to methodically research and summarize results concerning the efficacy of CBT in the mental and sexual health of survivors of PCa. METHODS: A systematic search was carried out via electronic databases until August 2022 (EBSCO, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science). By combining specific search words and following the PRISMA checklist, we identified 15 eligible articles among 8616 initial records. RESULTS: Four studies showed evidence of intervention efficacy for the improvement of sexual health, specifically for overall sexual function, erectile function, sexual desire, and sexual satisfaction. Eight studies found intervention efficacy for the improvement of mental health dimensions, such as psychological distress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and quality of life. CONCLUSION: There is evidence that CBT interventions have the potential to effectively promote mental and sexual health in survivors of PCa, but further research comprising larger and more diverse populations is needed. Future studies should focus on understanding mechanisms of change through CBT interventions to ensure the mental and sexual health of survivors of PCa.