OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence and related factors of psychic symptoms in patients with chronic prostatitis.

METHODSPatients diagnosed with chronic prostatitis were selected as research objects, their course of disease, therapeutic process and psychic symptoms were inquired and recorded carefully, clinical symptoms were evaluated, expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) were examined, and many related factors were compared with psychic symptoms.

RESULTSAmong the 315 patients selected, 51.1% (161/315) had psychic symptoms. Psychic symptoms in patients with chronic prostatitis had nothing to do with course of disease, the incidence of psychic symptoms in patients with course less than 1 year, 1 to 2 years, and more than 2 years were 49.1%, 48.0%, and 56.1%, respectively; had closed relationship with therapeutic process, the incidence of psychic symptoms in patients to see doctors for the first times, the 2 to 3 times and more than 3 times were 35.3%, 43.5%, and 62.6%, with significant statistical difference (P < 0.05); had no relationship with severity of clinical symptoms, the incidence of psychic symptoms in patients with mild, media and severe clinical symptoms were 46.2%, 52.4%, and 55.9%; no statistical difference was noticed in patients with different degrees of inflammation, the incidence of psychic symptoms in patients with inflammatory and non-inflammatory prostatitis were 53.8% and 47.3%.

CONCLUSIONPsychic symptoms in patients with chronic prostatitis had direct relationship with times patient seeking medical care, and prolonged therapeutic process aggravated the psychic symptoms.