INTRODUCTION: We aimed to assess rates of depression in patients with bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy and identify its predictors.

METHODS: Depressive symptoms in 42 consecutive patients were evaluated using the Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) on the day prior to surgery, postoperative day (POD) 6, six weeks after surgery, and 12–18 months postoperatively.

RESULTS: Fifteen patients (36%) presented with BDI scores ≥10 before the operation; this rate increased to 64% on POD 6 and 69% at six weeks post-surgery. Depression score rose from a preoperative median of seven to 11 on POD 6 (p=0.003) and to 15 at six weeks after surgery (p=0.001). Patients who arrived with a BDI score of <10 had a higher increase in the BDI at six weeks compared to patients with depressive symptoms prior to surgery (average increase of 9.8 vs. 0.8, p<0.01). Age, gender, type of diversion, and complications were not associated with depression at presentation or progression of depression. Patients who did not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy tended to be at increased risk for depression progression (57.1% vs. 14.3%, p=0.093). Twenty-four patients completed a fourth questionnaire 12–18 months postoperatively. The median BDI score was eight; three patients with disease recurrence had a higher increase in the BDI score (average 12.7 vs. -5.2, p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Depression among patients facing cystectomy is high, and postoperative progression is substantial. Patients without depressive symptoms preoperatively are at increased risk of developing postoperative depression. After 12–18 months, the most influential risk factor for depression is recurrence. These findings highlight the need to consider interventions in selected patients.