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Anxiety and depression in patients after surgery for head and neck cancer in Japan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2015

Miho Suzuki*
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Cancer Institute Hospital of Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
Minako Deno
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Education, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Mie Myers
Affiliation:
Division of Community-Based Comprehensive Dentistry, Department of Special Needs Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan
Takahiro Asakage
Affiliation:
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
Koji Takahashi
Affiliation:
Division of Oral Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Special Needs Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan
Kenichi Saito
Affiliation:
Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Kanto Medical Center NTT EC, Tokyo, Japan
Yoshiyuki Mori
Affiliation:
Department of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
Hiroto Saito
Affiliation:
Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Medical Treatment Corporation, Ebara Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Yuji Ichikawa
Affiliation:
Department of Oral Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Medical Treatment Corporation, Toshima Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Noriko Yamamoto-Mitani
Affiliation:
Department of Adult Health Nursing/Palliative Care Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Mitsunori Miyashita
Affiliation:
Department of Palliative Nursing, Health Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Miho Suzuki, The Cancer Institute Hospital of the Japanese Hospital for Cancer Research, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-8550, Japan. E-mail: msuzuk02@gmail.com.

Abstract

Objective:

The present study sought to examine the impact of physical symptoms, facial disfigurement, adequacy of preoperative information, and social support on anxiety and depression in Japanese patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) who had undergone surgery.

Method:

A cross-sectional study with 194 patients was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. This instruments included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Head and Neck cancer module (QLQ–H&N35), and a Social Support Scale developed by Okabayashi et al. (1997).

Results:

The majority (56.7%) had surgery two or more years before completing the questionnaire. More than 25% of respondents showed anxiety or depression. Higher levels of perceived social support were associated with lower rates of anxiety and depression (p < 0.01). Sensory problems were associated with anxiety, and reduced sexuality was associated with depression (p < 0.01). Perceived disfigurement and adequacy of preoperative information were not associated with anxiety or depression.

Significance of Results:

Survivors of HNC experience anxiety and depression for an extended period of time. Social support may alleviate the severity of these disorders. More research is needed to confirm the impact of facial disfigurement and that of the preoperative information provided by surgeons on psychological distress in HNC patients.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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