The Psychological Burden of Peyronie's Disease: A Comprehensive Review of Its Impact on Men's Mental Health

Abstract

Peyronie's disease (PD) is an acquired fibrotic disorder of the tunica albuginea causing penile deformity and sexual dysfunction. Beyond its physical effects, PD carries a significant psychological and emotional burden. Men with PD frequently experience anxiety, depression, diminished self-esteem, and relationship strain - often disproportionate to the degree of penile curvature.
The psychological dimension of PD remains understudied and undertreated, and a need to better characterize the emotional, psychosexual, and relational effects of PD to inform improved patient care is apparent. A PubMed-based review of peer-reviewed studies was conducted, focusing on depression, quality of life (QOL), psychosexual distress, and mental health outcomes related to PD and its treatment.

Findings show that men with PD have significantly higher rates of depression/anxiety compared with healthy controls, with reported depression prevalence ranging from 4% to nearly 20%. Psychological distress is largely independent of deformity severity and is more strongly influenced by body image concerns, sexual confidence, and relationship factors. Importantly, successful treatment of PD is associated with improvements in depression and QOL.

PD imposes a substantial psychosocial burden beyond its physical manifestations. Routine mental health screening, multidisciplinary care, and patient-centered counseling should be integral to PD management to improve outcomes and QOL.