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Objectives: The sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis are involved in the pathophysiology of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis are also highly reactive to psychological stressors, yet associations between prostate function and reactivity to a psychological stressor have not been examined using standardized psychological stress paradigms. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between psychological stress reactivity and BPH disease parameters., Methods: A total of 83 men diagnosed with BPH completed a standardized laboratory stress task, yielding measures of blood pressure, testosterone, and cortisol reactivity. Links were examined between stress reactivity (as indicated by changes in blood pressure, testosterone, and cortisol during the stress task) and measures of BPH disease, including prostate volume, postvoid residual bladder volume, urine flow rate, self-reported lower urinary tract symptoms, and impact and bother scores., Results: In equations controlling for BPH medications, body mass index, and age, greater diastolic blood pressure reactivity was associated with a greater transition zone volume (P <0.001), greater total prostate gland volume (P <0.05), greater postvoid residual bladder volume (P <0.05), more severe lower urinary tract symptoms (P <0.001), and greater impact scores (P <0.05). Greater cortisol reactivity was associated with greater bother (P <0.05) and impact (P <0.001) scores., Conclusions: Physiologic reactivity to a standardized laboratory stressor is associated with objective and subjective BPH disease parameters. These findings contribute to growing data suggesting that stress conditions could be associated with the development or aggravation of prostatic disease.

Objective: Psychological factors such as stress are known to influence activity in the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, systems that in turn have been implicated in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Associations between psychological stress and prostate function have not been directly examined. The objective of this study was to examine associations among stress, hostility, and BPH disease parameters., Methods: Eighty-three men diagnosed with BPH completed self-report and interview measures of stress and hostility followed by measures of urologic function., Results: Higher lifetime stress was associated with lower prostate volumes and residual urine volumes (p's < .05). By contrast, high recent stress and hostility were associated with greater residual urine (p's < .05). Stress and hostility were not associated with self-report ratings of urologic symptoms., Conclusions: Stress and hostility were associated with objective measures of urologic functioning among men with BPH. Results highlight the need for increased attention in research and clinical settings toward associations between psychological factors and urologic disease.