Prediction of depressive symptomatology after treatment of head and neck cancer: The influence of pre-treatment physical and depressive symptoms, coping, and social support

• Published in: Head & neck Vol. 22; no. 8; pp. 799 - 807
• Main Authors: de Leeuw, J. Rob J., de Graeff, Alexander, Ros, Wynand J. G., Blijham, Geert H., Hordijk, Gert-Jan, Winnubst, Jacques A. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.12.2000; John Wiley & Sons
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Comorbidity; coping; coping, social support; Depression; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder - rehabilitation; Female; head and neck cancer; Head and Neck Neoplasms - epidemiology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - psychology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Head and Neck Neoplasms - surgery; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mood disorders; Multivariate Analysis; Otorhinolaryngology (head neck, general aspects and miscellaneous); Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; physical symptoms; Postoperative Period; prediction of depression; Predictive Value of Tests; Preoperative Care; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Social Support; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tumors; Mood disorder; Human; Squamous cell carcinoma; Depression; Malignant tumor; Radiotherapy; Prospective; Treatment; Surgery; Head and neck; ENT disease; Complication; Coping; Psychopathology; Predictive factor
• ISSN: 1043-3074; 1097-0347
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0347(200012)22:8<799::AID-HED9>3.0.CO;2-E

Background Head and neck cancer and its treatment can have important psychosocial implications, and many patients become depressed. The aim of this prospective study is to examine whether pretreatment variables can be used to predict depression 6 and 12 months later. Methods Head and neck cancer patients (155) treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy completed a questionnaire including items on social support, coping, depressive symptoms, physical functioning, and physical symptoms before and after treatment. Results By using 5 variables (physical symptoms, depressive symptoms, emotional support, extent of the social network, and avoidance coping), it was possible to predict those patients who would have symptoms at 6 (81%) and 12 months (67%) after treatment. Inclusion of actual physical symptoms reported at follow‐up increased these percentages to 89% and 82%. Conclusions It is concluded that screening for psychosocial variables and physical symptoms before treatment can be used to determine which patients are at risk of developing depressive symptoms after treatment. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 22: 799–807, 2000.