Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40597334›Full record

ArticleBMC psychology2025

Psychological distress in Saudi prostate cancer patients: exploring prevalence and sociodemographic influences.

Fahad Alzahrani, Osama A Madkhali, Abdulrahman M Hijri, Mazen A Alaqil, Amani Khardali, Sultan Othman Alolayan, Sutan S Al Thaqfan, Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Harbi, Bandr Kalaf Aljabri, Mohannad A Almikhlafi and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
  2. Exploring Lived Experiences of Men Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer in Oman: A Qualitative Study.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Fahad AlzahraniDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Madinah, 42353, Saudi Arabia. fzahrani@taibahu.edu.sa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1240-5008
Osama A MadkhaliDepartment of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, 45124, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulrahman M HijriDepartment of Pharmaceutical Care Services, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Mazen A AlaqilPharmacy Practice Research Unit, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, P.O. Box 114-45124, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Amani KhardaliDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, 45124, Saudi Arabia.
Sultan Othman AlolayanDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Madinah, 42353, Saudi Arabia.
Sutan S Al ThaqfanDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Madinah, 42353, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulrahman Mohammed Al HarbiScientific Research Unit, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Madinah, 42353, Saudi Arabia.
Bandr Kalaf AljabriScientific Research Unit, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Madinah, 42353, Saudi Arabia.
Mohannad A AlmikhlafiPharmacology and Toxicology Department, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Madinah, 42353, Saudi Arabia.
Sohailah AlzahraniDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundProstate cancer patients frequently experience significant psychological distress, which can negatively impact treatment adherence and quality of life. However, research on psychological outcomes in Saudi Arabian prostate cancer patients remains limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and loneliness in this population and examine associated sociodemographic factors.

methodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2023 and May 2024 among 433 Saudi men diagnosed with prostate cancer across various regions of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using validated screening tools: the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) for depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2) for anxiety, and the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-3) for loneliness. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify sociodemographic predictors of psychological distress.

resultsThe study revealed high prevalence rates of depression (35.1%), anxiety (30.5%), and loneliness (31.9%). Depression demonstrated strong positive correlations with anxiety (r = 0.72, p < 0.01) and loneliness (r = 0.68, p < 0.01). Low income (< 5000 SAR) showed the strongest association with anxiety (OR = 2.71, 95% CI = 1.30-5.65, p < 0.01), followed by depression (OR = 2.66, 95% CI = 1.32, 5.34, p < 0.01), and loneliness (OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.03, 4.27, p < 0.01). Being privately employed was significantly associated with higher anxiety (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.26-0.99, p < 0.04) and loneliness (OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.27-1.00, p < 0.03).

conclusionSaudi prostate cancer patients experience substantial psychological distress, particularly among socioeconomically vulnerable groups. These findings underscore the urgent need for routine psychological screening, culturally sensitive mental health interventions, and targeted policy reforms. Integrating psychosocial care into oncology services can enhance patient outcomes and inform national cancer care strategies in Saudi Arabia.

Indexed as

AnxietyDepressionLonelinessProstatic NeoplasmsPsychological DistressAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceQuality of LifeSaudi ArabiaSocioeconomic FactorsAnxietyDepressionLonelinessProstate cancerPsychological distressSaudi Arabia

Identifiers

PMID40597334
PMCPMC12219058

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.