Psychotherapy combined with drug therapy in patients with category III chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the efficacy of psychotherapy combined with drug therapy in patients with category III chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Methods: A total of 156 patients with category III chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome were randomly divided into two groups: the control group of 78 patients receiving routine medication; and the intervention group of 78 patients receiving psychological intervention therapy combined with routine medications. Treatment courses were for 3 months. The end-points were the response rate of the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index, International Index of Erectile Function-5, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale and expressed prostatic secretion-white blood cells.

Results: After 3 months, the average scores of the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index decreased to 10.1 ± 5.0 in the control group compared with 14.1 ± 4.9 in the intervention group; thus, significant differences were observed between the two groups in the study (P < 0.001). The average scores of the International Index of Erectile Function-5 were improved in the two groups, but compared with the control group, a more marked improvement was detected in the psychological intervention group, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). There was significant difference between the two groups in terms of the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale scores (P < 0.001). Expressed prostatic secretion-white blood cell counts significantly decreased to 4.4 ± 3.5 in the control group compared with 9.8 ± 3.4 in the intervention group (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Psychological intervention therapy can effectively improve the psychological status and sexual function in patients with category III chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome than the routine medication.

Keywords: Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index; International Index of Erectile Function-5; prostatitis; psychological intervention.