In a new study, researchers found people with prostate cancer may benefit from personality tests.
This is because the tests can improve the care and recovery from prostate cancer surgery.
The research was conducted by researchers from Akershus University Hospital, Norway.
In the current study, the team examined 982 men who had undergone prostate surgery at the University Hospital in Oslo, Norway.
About 761 patients reported on their recovery from the surgery and also reported that they had a neuroticism personality with a questionnaire.
The researchers found men with high neuroticism are much more likely to suffer from adverse events such as erectile dysfunction, incontinence, and bowel problems.
These conditions put the men’s recovery from prostate cancer surgery at risk. Men with a greater tendency towards neuroticism have worse outcomes three years after prostate cancer surgery.
Neuroticism is a personality trait existing in about 25% of men in western countries.
It is a basic personality trait, like extraversion or openness. Everyone has some degree of neuroticism.
People high on neuroticism are more likely than average people to be moody and to experience such feelings as anxiety, worry, fear, anger, frustration, envy, jealousy, guilt, depressed mood, and loneliness.
They may respond worse to stressors and are more likely to interpret ordinary situations as threatening and minor frustrations as hopelessly difficult.
The findings suggest that cancer teams need to consider to use personality tests and try to ensure that patients with prostate cancer receive the best care.
The researchers hope doctors will take account of this personality information like they would take physical factors into account before and after cancer treatment.
It is important to do a more specialized follow-up of those who have neuroticism and at a high rise of poorer outcomes after surgery.
This may help improve the recovery and quality of life in these patients.
The lead author of the study is Dr. Karol Axcrona from Akershus University Hospital.
The study is presented at the European Association of Urology Congress in Barcelona.
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