madman
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* Our findings suggest that mood improvements following TTh initiation may occur progressively, with the most substantial reductions in depressive symptoms observed after 18 weeks post-TTh initiation.
TIMING OF MOOD IMPROVEMENT POST TESTOSTERONE THERAPY INITIATION
Christian Corsini*, Edoardo Pozzi, Massimiliano Raffo, Fausto Negri,Alessandro Bertini, Federico Belladelli, Andrea Folcia, Marco Malvestiti,Rayan Matloob, Luca Boeri, Alessia D' Arma, Francesco Montorsi,Andrea Salonia, Milan, Italy
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE
Testosterone therapy (TTh) is commonly prescribed for male hypogonadism, the timing and extent of its effects on mood parameters remain unclear in real-life clinical practice. While some studies suggest that TTh can improve depressive symptoms, the variability in response over time has not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to assess the impact of TTh in terms of mood deflection improvement at various intervals post-treatment initiation, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
METHODS
Retrospective data from the last 58 patients undergoing TTh at a single center were analyzed, with a focus on BDI scores before and after treatment initiation. Baseline clinical characteristics, including total testosterone (tT) levels and health comorbidities as scored with the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), were recorded. Patients were grouped into: Group 1, those who showed improvement in their BDI scores post-TTh initiation; and, Group 2, those who did not report BDI scores improvements. Descriptive statistics were used to compare the two groups. Univariable (UVA) linear regression models were employed to explore the association between TTh duration and BDI scores changes. Ridge regression curves was used to graphically display the distribution in BDI score reduction according to the duration of TTh (e.g., 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 18 weeks and>18 weeks).
RESULTS
29 patients (50%) reported variable improvement in BDI scores after starting TTh. No difference in terms of age (median (IQR) 56 (50-63) vs. 61 years (53-67); p=0.57) and BMI (5.9 (24.6-28.1) vs. 26.8 kg/m2 (24.6-29.4); p=0.34) was found in the 2 groups. Baseline BDI scores were 11 (7-18) in group 1 and 7 (3-12) in group 2 (p=0.08). BDI>16 were present in 7 (24.14%) men and in 4 (13.79%) men, respectively. Most patients reporting BDI scores improvement received TTh for>18 weeks (14 patients, 48.28%), 3 (10.34%) were treated for 18 weeks, 9 (31.03%) for 12 weeks, and 3 (10.34%) for 6 weeks, respectively. Conversely, all group 2 patients were assessed at the 6-week mark. Linear regression analysis showed that the longer TTh duration the greater the BDI improvement (coefficient -0.002, p=0.0001), after adjusting for age, BMI, and baseline tT levels.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that mood improvements following TTh initiation may occur progressively, with the most substantial reductions in depressive symptoms observed after 18 weeks post-TTh initiation.
TIMING OF MOOD IMPROVEMENT POST TESTOSTERONE THERAPY INITIATION
Christian Corsini*, Edoardo Pozzi, Massimiliano Raffo, Fausto Negri,Alessandro Bertini, Federico Belladelli, Andrea Folcia, Marco Malvestiti,Rayan Matloob, Luca Boeri, Alessia D' Arma, Francesco Montorsi,Andrea Salonia, Milan, Italy
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE
Testosterone therapy (TTh) is commonly prescribed for male hypogonadism, the timing and extent of its effects on mood parameters remain unclear in real-life clinical practice. While some studies suggest that TTh can improve depressive symptoms, the variability in response over time has not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to assess the impact of TTh in terms of mood deflection improvement at various intervals post-treatment initiation, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
METHODS
Retrospective data from the last 58 patients undergoing TTh at a single center were analyzed, with a focus on BDI scores before and after treatment initiation. Baseline clinical characteristics, including total testosterone (tT) levels and health comorbidities as scored with the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), were recorded. Patients were grouped into: Group 1, those who showed improvement in their BDI scores post-TTh initiation; and, Group 2, those who did not report BDI scores improvements. Descriptive statistics were used to compare the two groups. Univariable (UVA) linear regression models were employed to explore the association between TTh duration and BDI scores changes. Ridge regression curves was used to graphically display the distribution in BDI score reduction according to the duration of TTh (e.g., 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 18 weeks and>18 weeks).
RESULTS
29 patients (50%) reported variable improvement in BDI scores after starting TTh. No difference in terms of age (median (IQR) 56 (50-63) vs. 61 years (53-67); p=0.57) and BMI (5.9 (24.6-28.1) vs. 26.8 kg/m2 (24.6-29.4); p=0.34) was found in the 2 groups. Baseline BDI scores were 11 (7-18) in group 1 and 7 (3-12) in group 2 (p=0.08). BDI>16 were present in 7 (24.14%) men and in 4 (13.79%) men, respectively. Most patients reporting BDI scores improvement received TTh for>18 weeks (14 patients, 48.28%), 3 (10.34%) were treated for 18 weeks, 9 (31.03%) for 12 weeks, and 3 (10.34%) for 6 weeks, respectively. Conversely, all group 2 patients were assessed at the 6-week mark. Linear regression analysis showed that the longer TTh duration the greater the BDI improvement (coefficient -0.002, p=0.0001), after adjusting for age, BMI, and baseline tT levels.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that mood improvements following TTh initiation may occur progressively, with the most substantial reductions in depressive symptoms observed after 18 weeks post-TTh initiation.
