To Örebro University

PURPOSE: Studies have shown that men with Peyronie's disease often suffer from psychological problems, but the psychiatric burden of this disorder remains largely unknown. We assessed risks of a range of psychiatric outcomes in a population-based, Swedish cohort comprising 3.5 million men.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal cohort study based on Swedish national registers. A total of 8,105 men diagnosed with Peyronie's disease and 3.5 million comparison subjects from the general Swedish population were selected, and followed-up for diagnosed psychiatric outcomes, including substance use disorder, alcohol misuse, anxiety disorder, depression, and self-injurious behaviors. Risks of psychiatric outcomes were estimated with Cox regressions, and additionally adjusted for birth year.

RESULTS: Men with Peyronie's disease had increased risks of being diagnosed with substance use disorder; hazard ratio (HR) 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-1.9, no excess risk of alcohol misuse; HR 0.9, CI 0.8-1.1, but elevated risks of anxiety disorder; HR 1.9, CI 1.6-2.2, depression; HR 1.7, CI 1.5-2.0, self-injurious behaviors; HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.7-2.3, as well as any psychiatric outcomes; HR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2-1.5. The risk estimates were slightly decreased when adjusted for birth year. A limitation of the study was that we had no information about Peyronie's disease diagnoses assigned before year 1997.

CONCLUSIONS: Men with Peyronie's disease are at increased risk of being diagnosed with adverse psychiatric outcomes. Health care providers should ensure that men with Peyronie's disease have a documented mental health status assessment.