Psychological morbidity in spouses of laryngectomized cancer patients: factors related to the probability of its occurrence

• Published in: Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik, medizinische Psychologie Vol. 62; no. 5; p. 163
• Main Authors: Meyer, Alexandra, Wollbrück, Dorit, Dietz, Andreas, Brähler, Elmar, Guntinas-Lichius, Orlando, Vogel, Hans-Joachim, Meister, Eberhard F, Körner, Annett, Singer, Susanne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.05.2012
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Laryngectomy - psychology; Male; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Mental Disorders - psychology; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Sexual Behavior; Socioeconomic Factors; Spouses - psychology; Tracheostomy
• ISSN: 1439-1058
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1304583

In a multicenter cross-sectional study of 106 spouses of laryngectomized patients differences between spouses with a mental disorder and spouses without were analyzed. The probability of occurrence was mainly related to relationship factors: Spouses, who reported a better quality of their relationship with the patient (OR=0.77; 95% CI: 0.631-0.939; p=0.010), whose sexual desire was not diminished in response to their partner's disease (OR=0.077; 95% CI: 0.011-0.527; p=0.009) and who had no problems in dealing with the tracheostomy (OR=0.062; 95% CI: 0.006-0.619; p=0.018) presented a mental disorder less frequently. The cross-sectional nature of this study does not allow conclusions regarding causality. The results should be reappraised in a longitudinal study. However, the findings suggest that patients with laryngectomy and their families should be also offered couple interventions besides individual counseling.